Fortune tellers of old would, for a small fee, read your palm and attempt to predict your future. Today, there is another kind of palm reading, powered by technology, which seeks to confirm your identity. Your palm is unique: that particular combination of veins, lines and creases is like no other. That makes it a prime candidate for use in the field of biometrics, joining other techniques such as fingerprint, facial and voice recognition. Your palm could be used to usher you through passport control, enter the office, pay for goods and much else. But as these biometric techniques accumulate, concern is growing about weak security and the long-term effect on personal privacy.
Such systems may be convenient, but are they wise?
Palm ID is already being used in a few places around the world, including Jeju International Airport in South Korea. But last week, global giant Amazon announced the launch of its system called Amazon One. Its initial roll-out is small: only at a couple of Amazon Go shops in Seattle where shoppers can pay for goods quickly and easily. But there are big ambitions. "We plan to offer the service to third parties like retailers, stadiums and office buildings, so that more people can benefit from this ease and convenience," says Dilip Kumar, vice president of Amazon's physical retail business.
How does it work? Computer vision technology scans your vein and line patterns to create a "palm signature". You connect that palm signature to a payment card. Then you pay for items merely by holding your hand over a scanner. Combined with the "Just Walk Out" experience of Amazon Go shops (which use cameras and sensors to bill you for what you pick up and walk out with) it's the ultimate in frictionless shopping. You do not even need a phone. You simply walk in, grab what you want and wave your palm as you leave.
It's not only speedy – palm ID is also billed as the safest form of biometrics yet devised. Unlike facial recognition, your palms are not visible at a distance and thus cannot be used to authenticate you without your permission. Naman Aggarwal, Asia Pacific policy counsel at digital rights organisation Access Now, says it's a more accurate system, too. "All biometric techniques have different false acceptance rates and false rejection rates. Palm ID does seem like an improvement within the realm of biometrics. But the problem [with all of them] is that they exist in your body, they are a measurement of your bodily attributes. If they get compromised, you cannot change them. That is where the real human rights harm happens."
Passwords, chips and PINs can be changed. If they are breached, you can get new ones and stay in control. Not so with biometrics. Their weakness was memorably highlighted in 2008 by the German hacker group Chaos Computer Club, when it published the fingerprint of Germany's then interior minister (and biometrics enthusiast) Wolfgang Schauble, having lifted it from a glass he had been holding at a public event. While you cannot subvert a palm signature in this way, your security still depends on the vigilance of the organisation holding it. A breached biometric server could compromise the privacy of an entire population – but even if that breach never happens, questions still remain about who might have access to it, who it might be sold to and whether copies are being made.
Digital rights group EFF warn users of “multimodal” databases that combine various biometrics with other data points such as name, address and GPS location. For its part, Amazon has assured the public that “nothing is more important to us than earning and maintaining customer trust … we designed Amazon One to be highly secure.”
We are sharing a crazy amount of our information for benefits that are not proportionate. Why does Amazon, or anyone developing any sort of ID, need to use biometrics for authentication?
Amazon is not the only company working in this field. Market research organisation Fact.MR predicts that vein recognition will be a billion-dollar industry by the end of this decade, and several companies are offering assurances that it will enhance our lives and make onerous tasks easier. “They feel that it creates a better experience for the user,” Aggarwal says. “But they don’t realise the risk they are putting that user in. It’s creating a system that can be abused later.”
As biometric authentication becomes more widespread, particularly on smartphones, Aggarwal believes we are being seduced by convenience without considering the implications. “We are sharing a crazy amount of our information for benefits that are not proportionate,” he says. “Why does Amazon, or anyone developing any sort of ID, need to use biometrics for authentication? Do I really want to give out biometric information in order to speed up a transaction by a second or two? There are less intrusive ways of going about this.”
In this era of Covid-19, the case for biometrics is being pushed harder. With cash and PIN keypads deemed to be health hazards, frictionless payments and admission systems seem to be eminently sensible, and Amazon is stressing the contactless nature of Amazon One. Aggarwal, however, disputes whether the biometric argument has become stronger in the pandemic. "People are really concerned about touching things right now," he says. "The narrative has become stronger, possibly based on a flawed flow of thought. The argument has not."
One thing is clear, though. Our palms hold information that is extremely valuable. Not just for fortune tellers, but for big business, too.
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET
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The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
HOW TO WATCH
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
More coverage from the Future Forum
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
