Fingerprint ID Is Becoming A More Popular Currency Among Consumers Than You Can Even Imagine

There is an eerie form of technology that 5 years ago would have shivered one's spine, but today seems to be already widely accepted: the fingerprint ID.

When Apple first came out with Touch ID on its iPhone 5, I was struck by the ease with which it was accepted--hundreds of thousands of people everywhere just giving up their fingerprints to a company known for its backdoor to the NSA and other surveillance organizations. Now, such technology may be close to ubiquity. 

According to The Japan News, the government of Japan will be implementing "a system in which foreign tourists will be able to verify their identities and buy things at stores using only their fingerprints." The way it will work is tourists will register their fingerprints, credit card information, etc at airports and other kiosks, thus allowing them to make payments without carrying any currency, simply by "placing two fingers on special devices installed at stores." 

A passport verification is required at certain hotels, but the government plans to substitute the fingerprint ID, thus facilitating ease of booking accommodations. Japan hopes to introduce the program throughout the country, including Tokyo, by 2020, thus, the government hopes, increasing overall foreign tourists to 40 million.

But where do all these fingerprints go? To third party consultants, of course. The reasoning is to "devise policies on tourism and management strategies for the tourism industry." There are attempts to put similar systems at a bank and a theme park in Japan. By the end of this month, Tokyo-based Aeon Bank "will become the first bank in Japan to test a system in which customers will be able to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines using only fingerprints for identification and omitting the use of cash cards." One official of the bank claimed this increases security for its customers, especially against those seeking to impersonate another identity. 

As we're living in a very tumultuous time of security breeches, particularly throughout Europe, one can see how fingerprint ID could become ubiquitous as people and governments are searching high and low for systems of protection. Many will be willing to hand over their fingerprints to any group promising security and protection, whether of bank accounts, identity, or other aspects of personal privacy. The one caveat--and it's a big one--is the high price of personal information one must pay for such protection. Prior to all this fingerprint ID, the only time one gave up one's fingerprint was under incarceration--one's identity added to the multitude of files of those offenders who for the rest of their lives will be kept under watch. Now, we're willing to give them up for the freedom of buying things, eating at restaurants, and finding suitable accommodation on our travels--all in the name of convenience.