Apple to Add Driver’s Licenses to Apple Wallet: How it Works
In a huge development for the world of digital identity, Apple has launched US driver’s license and ID scanning for the Apple Wallet in iOS 15. This innovation will enable users to store a digital copy of their ID just like their credit card or airline ticket.
What’s more, this new digital version of the driver’s license will be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as a valid form of identification for security checks at the airport. In the future, this could also be used as a form of ID in other situations, like checking into a hotel, functioning as a smart lock or for purchasing restricted items.
What devices currently offer ID and driver’s license scanning?
Apple has surged ahead of the competition by offering driver’s license scanning on the Apple Wallet, in a move reminiscent of their pioneering integration of fingerprint scanning and Face ID. Their Apple Wallet will be able to store IDs from iOS 15 onwards. However, the same technology could also be easily integrated for Android and Windows devices, or added directly into apps or websites.
Is scanning ID information on your device safe?
As with any new technology which will involve the processing of sensitive data, it is important that companies and consumers understand exactly how data will be captured and stored to ensure it cannot be breached. According to Apple, “all of the information in Wallet will be stored in a secure and encrypted fashion” – as is the case with credit card information already stored in the same way.
For other companies aiming to integrate ID scanning into their own devices, apps or websites, there are two options – and it is important to understand the differences between the two. The first option is server-side scanning – which is popular for processing large amounts of data at once, and involves sending the image to an external server to be read. The second option is ‘on device’ scanning, whereby the data is processed on the users phone, and functions offline.
For maximum security, companies that integrate mobile data capture for sensitive information like IDs should use on-device scanning, and partner with a vendor which has ISO 27001 certification. This ensures the highest level of protection for customer data, gives users greater control over their own data and avoids the possibility of interception from 3rd parties.
