A bill that could introduce digital driver’s licenses and ID cards in Illinois has been passed by the House and is now heading to the Senate.
State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, sponsored House Bill 4592, an initiative from the Illinois Secretary of State, which would enable digital IDs to be stored on smartphones.
Concerns about the security and privacy of digital IDs were raised during the House discussions. State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, questioned how to prevent unauthorized searches during traffic stops.
“You hand it to them, say they swipe to another one or you have a text that comes in and supersedes the image, is that a legitimate search?” asked Keicher. “Is that qualified or is that a tainted apple of the tree?”
Buckner responded to Keicher’s question by clarifying that the bill includes provisions to prevent law enforcement or others from accessing additional data on a person’s phone when displaying a digital ID.
Another concern was brought up by State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, who questioned whether law enforcement officers could potentially download content from people’s phones, with Buckner pointing to existing laws protecting against unauthorized searches that would apply to digital IDs as well.
Additional concerns were raised about ensuring access to digital IDs for individuals without internet access. Despite these concerns, the measure passed unanimously in the House, indicating strong support for the convenience of digital IDs amidst increasing use of digital pay apps and other programs.
This news follows a story out of Pennsylvania, where just last month, the State House Transportation Committee held it’s own public hearing on proposed legislation that would enable digital driver’s licenses and ID cards to be stored on smartphones in the state. That bill includes provisions to ensure privacy and data integrity, protecting personal devices from unauthorized searches during law enforcement interactions.
Source: Advantage News, My State Line
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May 22, 2024 — by Ali Nassar-Smith
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