Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has approved a new law allowing residents to access digital versions of their driver’s licenses or state IDs, making Illinois the 12th state to adopt mobile ID technology.
The digital ID will complement the physical card but will not replace it. Residents will still need to present a physical license if requested by state officials or law enforcement.
The law, effective January 1, 2025, permits the state to charge up to $6 for a smartphone app used to register the digital ID.
The legislation was crafted with privacy in mind, including specific provisions that prevent law enforcement from accessing any data on a person’s phone when a digital ID is presented, except when a search warrant is issued. This provision aims to safeguard residents’ privacy while providing necessary information to law enforcement, businesses, and medical professionals.
The law also allows the Secretary of State’s office to start the process of selecting vendors to produce the digital IDs. These IDs will feature a barcode, enabling residents to verify their identity without handing their phones to officers during traffic stops.
While the bill has gained support from Democratic sponsors who highlight its convenience, some Republicans have expressed concerns about whether the safeguards to protect private information are sufficient. Despite these concerns, the bill passed both the state Senate and House and was signed into law by Pritzker as part of a package of over 100 bills.
In addition, Pritzker recently signed a significant amendment to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). This amendment reduces potential liability for businesses by counting multiple instances of collecting the same biometric identifier from the same person as a single violation, rather than multiple violations. The change comes after a contentious Illinois Supreme Court ruling and aims to ease the financial burden of BIPA compliance on businesses.
The amendment also approves the use of electronic consent for biometric data collection, including online “clickwrap” agreements.
Sources: 5 On Your Side, WAND, WTVO/WQRF
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August 18, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith
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