Georgia iPhone Users, Showing Your State ID Just Got Easier

Atlanta GA

01 September, 2021

2:25 PM

Description

CUPERTINO, CA — Technology giant Apple is partnering with the state of Georgia to roll out the ability for residents to add their driver's license or state ID to the digital wallet on their iPhone or Apple Watch. Georgia and Arizona will be the first states where residents can add their ID to their Apple Wallet, according to a news release from the company. Maryland, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Utah are slated to follow. "The addition of driver's licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet," Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said in the release. "We are already in discussions with many more states as we're working to offer this nationwide in the future." Spencer R. Moore, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services, also weighed in. "Georgia is a national leader when it comes to the safety and security of its driver and identity credentialing process," Spener said in a news release. "More than 99 percent of Georgians REAL ID compliant, and the state of Georgia is equally as committed to safety and security through our mobile driver's licensing efforts with Apple." How will it work? And what could this mean for your privacy? The first place residents will be able to use their ID in Apple Wallet is at security checkpoints at participating airports, the release said. Residents will present their driver's license or state ID to the security officials by simply tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the identity reader. IDs are scanned digitally through encrypted communication directly between the device and the identity reader. This means there's no need to unlock, show or hand over the device to present an ID. Neither Apple nor the participating state will know when or where users residents present their IDs, according to the news release. Built-in security features including Face ID and Touch ID ensure that only the person who added the ID to the device can view or present their ID or license in Wallet. If you live in a participating state, adding your driver's license or state ID to Apple Wallet is a straightforward process. According to Apple, residents should follow these steps: Open Apple Wallet on your iPhone.Tap the + button at the top of the screen in Wallet to add your license or ID. If you have an Apple Watch paired to your iPhone, you will be prompted to also add your ID to the Wallet app on your Apple Watch. You will be asked to scan your physical driver's license or state ID card and take a selfie, which will be securely provided to the issuing state for verification. For security purposes, users will also be prompted to complete a series of facial and head movements during the setup process. Once verified by the issuing state, the customer's ID or driver's license will be added to Apple Wallet.