I just flew through 4 different airports in the last week, and every single one of them, the payment device had a chip reader, but all of them were blocked with a piece of cardstock instructing the person to swipe.
Why? (I think they're all run by the same company, HMSHost, who, AFAICT as a traveler, has a monopoly on airport food.)
This is a perfect example of how bonkers/stupid banking is in the USA. If the retailer allows you to do a chip/pin transaction (much more secure than a magnetic stripe) THEY are liable for any fraud. Whereas a magnetic stripe transaction (super insecure) places all liability on the payment processor. So there is a perverse incentive to stick with old crappy technology. https://qz.com/717876/the-chip-card-transition-in-the-us-has...
Why? (I think they're all run by the same company, HMSHost, who, AFAICT as a traveler, has a monopoly on airport food.)