Amazon is discontinuing its palm-based payment and identification system at all retail locations, marking the end of a high-profile experiment in biometric commerce, according to notices posted at stores and on company devices.
The technology, known as Amazon One, allowed customers to pay or access services by scanning their palm, which was linked to their Amazon account and payment information. The system was deployed at Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores, some Whole Foods Market locations, stadiums, and third-party venues.
Notices displayed on in-store devices state that Amazon One palm authentication services “will be discontinued at retail businesses on June 3, 2026.” The notices also say that all user data, including palm data, will be deleted after that date.
“Thanks for using Amazon One,” one screen message reads. “Amazon One palm authentication services will be discontinued at retail businesses on June 3, 2026. One user data, including palm data, will be deleted after this date.”
Paper signs posted near the devices indicate the service will be phased out in the coming weeks and direct customers to scan a QR code for more information.
Amazon launched Amazon One in 2020, promoting it as a fast, contactless alternative to credit cards and smartphones. The company said at the time that palm recognition was more accurate than fingerprints and did not store actual images of users’ palms, relying instead on encrypted biometric templates.
The system expanded gradually over several years, including partnerships with sports arenas and entertainment venues. However, adoption remained limited compared with more widely used mobile payment platforms such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Privacy advocates had long raised concerns about biometric data collection, warning that such information is difficult or impossible to change if compromised. While Amazon maintained that the system was voluntary and secure, critics questioned whether customers fully understood how their data was stored and used.
The company has not publicly detailed the reasons for shutting down the program. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The move comes as major technology companies reassess experimental retail initiatives amid rising costs and shifting consumer habits. In recent years, Amazon has scaled back several physical retail projects, including closing dozens of brick-and-mortar stores and reworking its cashierless checkout systems.
Customers who enrolled in Amazon One are being notified that their biometric data will be deleted after the shutdown date. The notices emphasize that no action is required from users, though additional information is available through Amazon’s support channels.
The end of Amazon One marks a retreat from one of the most ambitious efforts by a major retailer to normalize biometric payments in everyday shopping, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing convenience, cost and consumer trust in emerging technologies.
Texas Reporter 