Californians can now add their digital driver’s license or state ID to the Apple Wallet, letting them carry official state identification in their iPhone or Apple Watch. The announcement comes after reports that such a launch was imminent last month.
It’s part of a pilot program involving over 650,000 participants. Last month, the digital IDs were made available on Google Wallet.
The consumer-friendly options are becoming available after a previous digital ID effort that required Californians to download a digital wallet from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The mobile IDs will be accepted at Los Angeles International Airport Terminal 7 and San Francisco International Airport Terminal 3, but aren’t yet recognized by law enforcement, government agencies, or most businesses, with the exception of six convenience stores.
In a statement, Apple highlighted the privacy protections in place for the digital ID, noting that “the state-issuing authority receives only the information it needs to approve or deny the request” for the activation of a mobile ID. “Once an ID is added to Apple Wallet, the information is encrypted on a user’s device, so others — including Apple — cannot access it unless a user chooses to present it,” the company said.
New York-based startup SpruceID provided the issuance platform for the digital ID.
“This launch is the culmination of a lot of hard work over the past year,” said CEO Wayne Chang. “We’re grateful for our partners at California Department of Motor Vehicles who continue to innovate in how digital identity can be both safe and secure, but also convenient and easy to use.”
The digital ID’s registration process uses selfie-based facial recognition. Users are prompted to upload photos of the front and back of their physical ID, and to take a selfie, with biometric technology comparing the images for identity verification.
A handful of U.S. states have launched mobile-based digital IDs in some form. Besides California, the list includes Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, and Utah.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC 7 News
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September 20, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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