Visual Cryptography in Action: The Pay-with-a-Selfie Demo

In developing countries, mobile technology is improving life conditions and providing new opportunities for economic development. Pay-with-a-Selfie is a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which provides a micro-payment framework for small business transactions at virtually zero per-transaction overhead and requiring no technological abilities beyond the one needed for taking a selfie. Trust is enhanced by relying on Visual Cryptography (VC) schemes that make it possible the creation of shares. “Pay-with-a-Selfie” is not intended to replace the existing payment infrastructures, but to extend their reach to areas where connectivity is patchy, or to situations when the phones SIMs are absent or locked.