By the summer of 2025, North Carolina residents will have the option to use digital driver’s licenses. The digital IDs will be stored in a secure app on smartphones and will contain the same information as traditional physical licenses.
The digital driver’s licenses will not replace physical copies but will provide an alternative option for residents. Enrollment in the digital ID program will be voluntary. Users can present their digital ID via the app in situations where they would normally show a physical license, such as during traffic stops or when asked for identification.
Digital IDs offer the advantage of sharing only necessary information, such as age verification, while keeping other personal details private. The information on the digital ID will update automatically if there are changes to the user’s name or address.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts mobile IDs at about 30 security checkpoints nationwide, so travelers should check if their digital ID will be accepted before flying.
North Carolina is one of the latest US states to signal its embrace digital driver’s licenses. Last month New York introduced its own mobile driver’s licenses in partnership with IDEMIA, and in May the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 4592, which aims to introduce digital driver’s licenses and ID cards in the state. That bill, sponsored by State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, would also allow digital IDs to be stored on smartphones.
This move is part of a larger trend towards digital wallets. Late last month, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration introduced the Maryland Mobile ID in Samsung Wallet, allowing users to securely verify their identity at select airport security screenings.
Source: ZDNet
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July 10, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis
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