Mobile ID seems to be on its way to Tennessee. After digital ID legislation was proposed at the end of last month, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security confirmed to local outlet WSMV4 that a program is in the works to establish a digital version of a state ID or driver’s license.
That’s exactly what would be required by HB 2792/SB 2661, which would instruct the Department of Safety “to establish and implement a secure digital license system for the issuance of digital driver licenses and photo identification licenses upon request.” The bill was put forward by Rep. Mary Littleton and Sen. Dawn White on January 31, and has reportedly already been the subject of discussion in certain committees and subcommittees.
The bill specifically describes a process to “allow a person to use a mobile software application on the person’s mobile electronic device” to access a digital version of the ID. This could be used in lieu of a physical driver’s license in interactions with law enforcement officials, who would be required to view it as “official identification”. The digital ID could not be used for voting purposes, however.
Notably, the bill is careful to emphasize that a resident’s provision of a mobile ID to display their digital driver’s license “does not constitute consent for a law enforcement officer to access any other content on the device,” a measure aimed at safeguarding the privacy of Tennesseans.
The legislation’s proposal comes almost a year after the Transportation Security Administration told a congressional committee of plans to expand its testing of mobile traveler ID technology to airports in Puerto Rico and Tennessee, after launching pilots in partnership with Apple, Google, and Samsung, all of which have been working on their own digital ID systems.
Tennessee’s proposed digital ID legislation would require the procurement and development of the technology to get underway as soon as it becomes law, and would require the actual issuance and use of digital licenses to take effect January 1, 2025.
Sources: WSMV4, Tennessee General Assembly
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February 22, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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