Florida will soon be among the first states in the US to offer a Mobile Driver’s License to citizens. To that end, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has partnered with Thales, which will be acting as the Credential Service Provider for the state.
The new driver’s licenses will be compliant with the established standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the International Organization for Standardization. The former ensures that the driver’s licenses can be used anywhere in the US, while the latter ensures that the same is true internationally.
Holders will be able to use the driver’s licenses as proof of identity and proof of age during in-person interactions. In that regard, the digital IDs offer the same utility as a physical document. The difference is that the user will not need to hand over a card, and will instead simply be able to bring up and display the ID on their personal mobile device.
The mobile driver’s license has a secure digitized credential to prevent counterfeiting, and can also be configured to display specific information in specific situations. For example, if the user only needs to prove their age to gain entry to a bar or a casino, the mobile ID will confirm that they are of legal age while omitting other personal information like address and date of birth. The feature is intended to give people more control of their privacy.
Floridians will be able to apply for the new driver’s licenses in 2021. They will be compatible with a wide range of mobile devices, including smartphones and tables.
“This project will make Florida a national leader in offering secure and trusted mobile identification,” said Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Terry Rhodes. “We have made a sustained commitment to the modernization of nearly every aspect of what our department does and how customers access our services.”
Thales previously partnered with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads to bring Digital Driver’s Licenses to Australia. Both the Queensland and the Florida solutions leverage Thales’ Digital ID Wallet, which debuted shortly after the company’s acquisition of Gemalto.
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