Apple Inc. has launched a new digital identity authentication feature – Digital ID, providing users with a new way to authenticate their identity in the Apple Wallet. According to Apple, this is a secure and confidential method where users can create identification using their U.S. passport data in the Apple Wallet and present their identity using iPhone or Apple Watch.
Apple’s Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, Jennifer Bailey, stated in a recent press release, “With the introduction of Digital ID, we are excited to expand the ways users can store and present their identity – all built on the inherent security and privacy protection of iPhone and Apple Watch.”
The initial test version of Digital ID will be launched at TSA checkpoints in over 250 airports in the United States for identity verification during domestic travel. As Digital ID cannot replace a physical passport, it cannot be used for international travel. Apple plans to introduce more applications for Digital ID in the future.
Apple has mentioned that even users without a REAL ID or state identification card can use Digital ID for identity verification.
Bailey mentioned that since Apple introduced the feature to add a driver’s license or state ID to the Apple Wallet in 2022, it has been well received by users. She stated, “The launch of Digital ID will bring this secure and convenient option to more users nationwide, allowing people to add information from their U.S. passport to the Apple Wallet now.”
If users do not have a U.S. passport to create a Digital ID, they can still add a qualifying driver’s license to the Apple Wallet as proof of identity.
A report from “The Hill” on Thursday suggested not using Digital ID due to the increasing ease for hackers to crack mobile phone passwords, posing a risk to users if their phones are stolen. This is also a concern for law enforcement as they have the technology to access iPhone information during searches.
According to the non-profit organization Upturn’s data, there are 2,000 law enforcement agencies across all 50 states in the U.S. equipped with tools to search individuals’ iPhones during investigations.
However, the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from unlawful searches and seizures, and a provision in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 requires law enforcement to follow procedures when accessing any data on your phone, including having a search warrant, court order, or subpoena.
(This article referenced reports from “The Hill”)