Apple has launched Digital ID, a way for users in the US to create and present a government-issued ID in Apple Wallet using their passport information. For now, it works only for identity verification at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports.
Apple says the reason for the introduction is because users asked for it:
“Since introducing the ability to add a driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet in 2022, we’ve seen how much users love having their ID right on their devices. Digital IDs brings this secure and convenient option to even more users across the country, as they can now add an ID to Wallet using information from their U.S. passport.”
What does Apple’s Digital ID mean for users?
You add a Digital ID by scanning your physical passport (photo page and chip) and taking a selfie as part of a verification process. Your ID stays encrypted on the device and isn’t shared with Apple.
To present it, you hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near a reader and confirm with Face ID or Touch ID. You choose which information is shared, and you never have to unlock or hand over your device.
At launch, it’s TSA-only. Apple says wider use at businesses, organizations, and online services will come later. Digital ID does not replace a passport for international travel.
Pros of Apple’s Digital ID:
- Convenience: Quickly present your ID from your iPhone or Apple Watch for TSA security, and eventually, for businesses or online checks.
- Security: The ID data is locally encrypted and requires biometric authentication for access.
- Privacy control: Users review and authorize the information shared, and Apple claims it doesn’t track when you use the ID.
- Expanded access: It’s helpful for people without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license who want to fly domestically.
- No device hand-off: You don’t hand over your device for inspection. You just present your phone or watch to a reader.
- Scalable: Apple already has the support of states and airports, and plans to expand.
Apple barely touches upon the risks that come with this new feature. We discussed many of them when we asked, should you let Chrome store your driver’s license and passport? Although Apple’s Digital ID looks safer than storing your ID in your browser, there are some additional concerns.
The risks of using Apple’s Digital ID
We had to look at other sources to find some of the more serious downsides.
- Device dependency: Lose your phone or watch, and you lose access to your Digital ID. That’s not to mention the risks if the device is stolen.
- Privacy and surveillance: Experts warn Digital ID adoption may lead to more ID checks in places that didn’t require them before, increasing surveillance and data tracking concerns.
- Potential for security breaches: Encrypted or not, digital IDs can still be targeted by device exploits, phishing, or social engineering.
- Biometric spoofing: Face ID or Touch ID can, in some cases, be spoofed or exploited.
- Platform lock-in: Apple’s system is closed, which means users are dependent on Apple’s legacy, update policies, and device ecosystem. If you switch platforms, you might find it hard to recover your digital ID.
- Social risks: Critics worry police or other authorities could pressure users to unlock devices under the guise of ID verification.
- Data sharing with state authorities: Your photo, video, and limited device analytics may be shared temporarily with issuing authorities for verification.
- Limited usefulness: Digital ID doesn’t replace your passport outside the US, so it’s not very useful for international travel, and it’s not accepted everywhere yet.
Summary
Apple’s Digital ID aims to make ID checks private, more secure, and convenient for most users. But concerns remain regarding privacy, device loss, ecosystem lock-in, and the potential for expanded surveillance and demands in everyday activities beyond TSA checkpoints.
We still see this option as safer than storing your ID in a browser, where attacks are far more common, but the drawbacks may still outweigh the benefits for many users. As one of our readers put it:
“The inconvenience of having to look through a drawer for my passport is not that big, that I would risk having my identity stolen.”
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