Apple has unveiled a new identity verification method, Digital ID, based on U.S. passport information. Digital ID works on iPhone and Apple Watch and allows users to scan their passport information in the Wallet app to create an ID card that can be presented immediately at airports and other locations. This feature does not replace a physical passport and is primarily intended for domestic flight verification.
Apple said this digital ID will allow more users to store their identities in the Wallet app without needing a driver's license or state ID. The TSA has begun beta testing at more than 250 airports across the United States, allowing domestic passengers to verify their identity simply by holding their iPhone or Apple Watch up to a dedicated reader.
The setup process begins with taking a photo of the passport page. The iPhone then scans the chip on the back of the passport to verify the authenticity of the data. If the selfie and facial movement verification pass, the digital ID is stored on the device. All information is encrypted and stored on the device, and Apple states that it cannot tell when or where the user presented their ID.
When in use, double-press the side button to reveal your digital ID. After reviewing the authentication request and confirming it with facial recognition or fingerprint recognition, only the required information will be presented. It's important to emphasize that the device can be presented only to the owner, without the need to hand it over to a staff member or unlock it.
Currently, Apple Wallet-based ID is available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, and Puerto Rico. In the past six months, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia have been added, and the ability to register My Number cards in the Wallet app has been first implemented in Japan. Apple has announced plans to expand the scope of digital ID use to include in-store authentication, age verification apps, and web-based identity verification.
