Its a slick implementation andas we shall seesecure.
But for you, the user, there are several downsides.
“What happens if youre traveling across state lines and the state youre traveling to doesnt accept digital IDs?
Rodion Kutsaev / Unsplash
“attorney Mark Piercetold Lifewire via email.
Digital ID
The advantage of a digital ID for the user is convenience.
But Digital ID also enhances your privacy.
Apple
Apple
For institutions, the appeal is much stronger.
Its like Apple Pay.
To begin with, you had to carry your credit card with you just in case.
Apple
Now, it’s possible for you to use Apple Pay pretty much everywhere.
Trust and Verify
Apples implementation is clever.
The phone will then hit up the state that issued the card to verify it.
Obviously, fake IDs wont work, so this is already better from the states point of view.
For iPhones with Touch ID, you are prompted to choose one fingerprint to use for authentication.
This prevents you from letting another person share your ID.
When you present your ID, you tap your iPhone onto the reader machine.
The phone then displays the information that will be shared.
you could review this, and if you agree, you authenticate with a finger or with FaceID.
Again, this all seems very familiar for Apple Pay users.
One interesting privacy bonus is that the iPhone can present limited info.
Your name and any other data are withheld.
In fact, it doesnt even need to share your age.
Your iPhone just has to confirm that you are 21 or over.
Privacy-wise, Apples implementation is solid.
The only downsides are the rate of adoption and whether you want to use digital ID.
Uptake
The biggest barrier will surely be short-lived.
As more and more states and federal agencies support digital IDs, theyll become easier to use.
