Now, make online payments using a selfie

Mastercard is rolling out new technology in Europe that allows customers to authorise payments with selfies. 

It is being introduced in 12 countries including the UK, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Belgium and Sweden following a series of trials in the US and Canada.

In the US, currently only corporate users can use the system.  

The company said it will roll out the technology, which has been nicknamed 'Selfie Pay' to the rest of the world next year.

The service, officially called Identify Check Mobile, eliminates the need for cardholders to recall passwords.

It is aimed at reducing the time it takes to make checkout payments online.

HOW SELFIE PAY WORKS 

When making online payments Mastercard customers will be asked to use a live video of their face or their fingerprint to authorise transactions.

It will replace the need to input passwords, which is currently what is used. 

Users will simply need to hold their phone up so their camera can take a live video of their face. 

This will be matched to images held by Mastercard using facial recognition technology, similar to those used in biometeric passports.

During the process they will also be asked to blink, allowing the software to confirm it is seeing a real face rather than just a photograph.