Top 3 Key Points:
- Mobile IDs Coming to Wallets: California residents can soon store their driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet, with Google Wallet support following shortly.
- TSA and Retail Use: Mobile IDs will work at select airports and businesses, but won’t replace physical cards.
- Limited Pilot Program: Only 1.5 million people can join the pilot, with a focus on privacy and security.
California residents will soon have the option to add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to their Apple Wallet, with Google Wallet support coming shortly after. Apple announced that this feature will be rolled out as part of California’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program, which is set to launch this fall.
The pilot will include 1.5 million participants and will allow users to pass through TSA checkpoints at select terminals in Los Angeles International (LAX) and San Francisco International (SFO) airports without needing to show a physical ID. Instead, participants can present their digital ID stored on their phones.
To get started, users will need to scan their physical driver’s license or ID and take a photo of their face. Once enrolled, these mobile IDs can also be used to purchase age-restricted products at specific retailers in Sacramento and to go through certain airport security checkpoints.
Apple Wallet already supports digital IDs in states like Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, and Ohio. Meanwhile, New York has launched its own Mobile ID app, which can be used for identity verification at airports. Other states, including Delaware, Florida, and Louisiana, have similar programs.
While these mobile IDs are convenient, there are privacy concerns. The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Surveillance Resistance Lab have raised alarms about potential misuse, such as police seizing phones during stops or tracking users through these digital IDs. Apple has responded by assuring users that the IDs stored in Apple Wallet are secure and not accessible to third parties, including Apple itself.
California has also confirmed that residents will be able to add their driver’s licenses or state IDs to Google Wallet soon. This is in addition to the CA DMV Wallet app, which already allows the digital storage of credentials. However, officials stress that the digital version doesn’t replace the need to carry a physical card.
Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted the collaboration with Apple and Google as a significant step forward in making services more convenient and secure for Californians. DMV Director Steve Gordon emphasized that the expansion of digital IDs will continue while maintaining high standards for privacy and security.
Google Wallet currently supports digital IDs in states like Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland, with California soon to join the list.
