California appears to be preparing to launch support for adding driver’s licenses to the Apple Wallet app. After nearly a year of using a proprietary app-based system, California is now close to rolling out the iOS-friendly functionality, allowing citizens to use their iPhones or Apple Watches as digital IDs.
The system has been in private beta testing with DMV employees, and, as 9to5Mac reports, it has progressed to the point where the government has started building consumer landing pages. These pages, which feature non-final imagery and copy, indicate that the public rollout is imminent. Once launched, California residents will be able to add their driver’s licenses to their Apple Wallet by scanning the front and back of the card and submitting a selfie for verification.
After adding their license to the Wallet app, users can present their digital ID at supported locations, such as TSA checkpoints at San Francisco and Los Angeles airports. The digital IDs are securely stored and protected by device biometrics. When presenting their ID, users transfer only the necessary information to verify eligibility, such as age, without revealing sensitive personal details.
The device owner must explicitly authorize what information is shared, and data is transferred securely and encrypted. Neither Apple nor the state tracks when or where the ID is used, as this information is only stored locally on the device.
If California pushes ahead soon, it could become the sixth US state to embrace Apple’s mobile driver’s license solution, following Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and, most recently, Ohio, which just launched Apple mDL support last week. The latter has reportedly received an enthusiastic response, with about 75,000 Ohioans registering mobile IDs to their iPhones within the first two days of the launch.
Sources: 9to5Mac, Cleveland.com
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August 5, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy and Alex Perala
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