biometric data

Fintech firm Revolut is testing 'Pay with Smile', a biometric payment method that lets customers pay in shops using facial recognition. The system links customers' existing KYC identity data, runs on Revolut's own point-of-sale hardware, and deducts money directly from a Revolut account, bypassing cards or smartphones. Commentators note this creates a nearly closed payment ecosystem around the company, raising both convenience and privacy questions as the trial draws attention in banking and fintech circles.

Airports and travel companies are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to streamline journeys, from check-in and security to boarding. Newsweek reports that biometric systems are replacing passports and boarding passes at growing numbers of airports, promising faster processing for passengers. The shift raises questions about privacy and data security as biometric identification becomes standard across the travel industry.

A new coalition of travel industry companies has called on the European Union to use its Digital Omnibus to enable secure, seamless biometric journeys across Europe. The group argues that clearer rules on biometric identity checks would smooth airport and border processes while protecting passenger data, and it wants the framework reflected in upcoming EU digital legislation.

Poland has completed the rollout of the European Union's Entry/Exit System, which digitally registers non-EU travellers crossing the bloc's external borders, replacing passport stamps with electronic records. Polish officials say the system gives the country 'full control over borders'. The move aligns Poland with the wider EU effort to modernise and tighten border management using shared biometric data.