Apple’s Mobile ID Touches Down in Ohio

Travelers in Ohio can now use their Apple Wallet to store a digital version of their state ID or driver’s license and pass through TSA security checkpoints at certain airports. The new feature was announced at John Glenn International Airport by Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, highlighting it as a convenient, safe, and private way to carry IDs.

Ohio is the fifth state to adopt this program, leveraging the same secure Apple technology used for storing credit cards and boarding passes.

When users add their ID to Apple Wallet, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) only accesses necessary information for approval. After addition, the ID data is encrypted, ensuring privacy and security, with only the user controlling access. However, this technology is currently unavailable for Android users, and physical IDs may still be required upon request.

Presently, it is implemented at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus and Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport in Covington.

Husted expressed confidence that the acceptance of mobile IDs will grow over time. In addition to airport use, Ohio has launched the Ohio Mobile ID application, allowing businesses and agencies to verify age using digital IDs. Agencies like the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Casino Control Commission are updating their systems to read these mobile IDs, and the Ohio Division of Liquor Control now accepts them for age verification.

Despite these advancements, mobile IDs cannot be used for voting or accepted by law enforcement. Husted clarified that changing the law would be necessary to include mobile IDs as valid voter identification. The current rollout aims to familiarize people with the technology, though Ohio has stringent voter ID laws in place.

Meanwhile, other states are making strides in the mobile ID ecosystem. In New York, a new selfie-secured mobile driver’s license was recently introduced, signaling growing adoption of digital identity solutions. This system enhances security and privacy in digital ID management, reflecting a trend towards more secure and convenient identification methods​.

Similarly, Virginia has joined the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ Digital Trust Service (DTS) for mobile driver’s licenses. The service ensures interoperability across jurisdictions using Public Key Infrastructure to authenticate mobile IDs without storing personally identifiable information​.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

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Aug. 1, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy