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What to know as your driver's license gets a digital upgrade
pbs.org • • technology
Key Points:
- Digital driver's licenses are being introduced in 20 states and Puerto Rico, allowing people to carry their license on smartphones or other devices, either via mobile wallets or state apps.
- Benefits include enhanced privacy by limiting shared information during ID checks and increased security since phones are harder to access than physical licenses; lost digital IDs can be remotely revoked.
- Privacy concerns arise over potential government tracking through "phone home" technology, where ID verification data could be sent to servers, raising fears of surveillance and data misuse.
- Some states, like Utah, have enacted laws banning phone home architectures to protect privacy, while advocacy groups urge more states to codify such protections and ensure the continued option of physical licenses.
- Adoption is growing but voluntary, with some states rejecting digital licenses; experts warn against mandatory digital IDs to avoid privacy infringements and loss of user choice.
