Revolut is now letting you pay with your face – but is it safe?

Revolut is rolling out the scheme from today (Picture: Getty Images)

Shoppers can now use their face to pay for everyday purchases for the first time, in a move that has sparked fears from privacy campaigners.

Revolut has unveiled the first-ever ‘pay with smile’ system, meaning customers won’t need their phone or cards to make a purchase.

The facial recognition technology will be on trial at the Hippo cafes in Bloomsbury, Chelsea and Soho, all in London, from September 24 to 26.

When checking out at a Revolut Register, shoppers can tap ‘Pay with Smile’ on a screen to complete a face identity check, similar to unlocking a smartphone.

The facial scan will process the payment after it has verified the shopper’s identity by checking it against information provided when signing up to Revolut.

Revolut has stressed that the data will be end-to-end encrypted (Picture: Getty Images)

All customers need to do to use the feature is to opt in to Revolut Pay with Smile in their Revolut app settings.

The bank stressed that their users will not be opted in by default and consent can be withdrawn at any time.

Revolut said they encrypt facial recognition data end-to-end and that personal data will not be stored by merchants.

However, the new payment methods have sparked fears from personal privacy campaigners.

Big Brother Watch warned that ‘no system is ever entirely secure’.

Their Head of Advocacy Jack Coulson said: ‘How people want to conduct their banking is their choice, but they should be under no illusions that giving away their biometrics is safe”

‘Revolut may feel they are offering convenience, but they are also normalising a dangerous technology, and it is users who bear the risk.

‘You can get a new passport, but your face is irreplaceable. Lost face scans can be used to fool identity checks and produce deepfakes, including sexualised images. The kind of potential violation is profound and unprecedented.’

Revolut is the first to roll out the revolutionary technology (Picture: Getty Images)

The technology is first being piloted from today and will be rolled out more widely in due course.

Revolut is also offering 0 per cent processing fees on Revolut Pay with Smile transaction, which is said will ease the burden on independent venues.

Alex Codina, general manager of merchant payments at Revolut Business, said: ‘By combining high-performance processing with facial recognition technology, we’re replacing outdated, fragmented tills with a hyper-efficient checkout experience designed to solve consumer and merchant pain points.’

Alex Damgaci, managing director at Kiss the Hippo Coffee, said: ‘We’re looking forward to welcoming guests to try Pay with Smile at our Bloomsbury, Soho and Chelsea cafes before we roll out across all 12 of our cafes later this year.’

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