California is one of 7 states participating in a pilot program that allows drivers to store their license on their phone in their Apple or Google wallet. California’s rollout is part of a larger project called “Digital ID Framework” which lays the groundwork for a much broader implementation of identification that is intended to supplement and eventually replace physical ID’s like Passports, government badges, and Driver’s Licenses. Their vision is to link the various State-certified credentials, government programs with day-to-day practicalities like checking in at an airport, purchasing groceries through EBT, or proving to local agencies that you are a licensed cosmetologist. But don’t throw your Driver’s License in a drawer just yet.
What this means for you
First off, California’s pilot program is limited to 1.5 million participants at the moment, and obviously you will need to have an Android or late model Apple smartphone with a functioning digital wallet. Additionally, using Apple or Google’s wallet mobile Driver’s License only grants you the ability to use it to verify your ID at airports, so unless you are a frequent traveler, adding your license to your digital wallet is really more of a novelty at this point. The DMV also has a wallet app that adds a little more functionality: in addition to using it at Airports, the DMV wallet app allows you to verify your age at a select few stores in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the reader function of the app allows you to verify identification of other DMV wallet users. Not exactly the bold new world you might have originally envisioned.
More importantly, your California mobile Driver’s License cannot currently be used for things like traffic stops or other law enforcement verifications. Some states like Louisiana and Colorado have begun adoption at this level, and as I mentioned above, California intends to expand capabilities of their Digital ID Framework to eventually make your phone a valid ID for this exact purpose. Until this comes to pass, and even when it does arrive, privacy advocates are recommending that you never voluntarily surrender your phone to law enforcement for any reason without a proper search warrant and legal representation. Even the Supreme Court has ruled in this matter. Even if you’ve done nothing wrong and are confident that there is nothing incriminating on your phone, it does not mean the person requesting your phone won’t abuse your privacy or their authority. For now, even if it seems like a very convenient feature, keep your phones in your pocket and your Driver’s License handy.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net