The state of California has considerably expanded a pilot program that allows residents to obtain a digital driver’s license/identification card that can be accessed on their mobile devices (via 9to5Mac). The digital ID, which the California DMV refers to as a “mDL” (mobile driver’s license), can be used for airport security clearance and age verification when purchasing alcohol. According to the DMV website for the initiative, the gratis pilot is now available to 1.5 million participants. You can enroll by installing the “CA DMV Wallet” application for iOS and Android.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you choose to enroll in the state’s digital IDs. The DMV emphasizes that you’ll still need to tote your tangible ID or driver’s license because “law enforcement, state government agencies, and businesses aren’t yet accepting the mDL.” A small number of airports and retail locations support them. The DMV guarantees that the app “does not permanently store your personal data,” but it does store your phone number and a “encrypted photo of your DL/ID card.”
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California’s Digital ID Limited to Dedicated App, Not Apple or Google Wallets
And California does not permit citizens to add a digital ID to the native wallets of iOS or Android; instead, you must use California’s dedicated app. “At this time, mDL is not available for Apple or Google wallets,” states the DMV. “However, additional platforms will become available in the future.”
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, indicated at the start of this year that the state was preparing to issue digital driver’s licenses. A few weeks ago, Los Angeles’ NBC 4 reported that more than 2,000 people had applied for the pilot and that the applicant pool would shortly grow.
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Source: The Verge
