Illinois launches mobile ID for Apple users
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Starting Wednesday in Illinois, iPhone users can show their ID on their phone, instead of the real thing, including at airports.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias called it a game changer for people showing their IDs at places like the airport to get through TSA checkpoints.
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Wednesday morning, Illinois will now be added to the drop-down list in the "driver's license and ID cards" section in the Apple Wallet.
So Apple users can add their Illinois driver's license or ID to their iPhone or Apple Watch.
The mobile ID will expand to Android users later, the state says.
People can tap their phone if a business or venue needs their ID, just like the "tap to pay feature."
"For anyone who has left the house without (a) wallet, today changes everything," Giannoulias said. "The Illinois driver's license and wallet take advantage of privacy and security features already built into Apple Watch to help protect against tampering and theft."
But you can't totally ditch your physical ID.
Not all businesses or law enforcement agencies are required to accept the mobile version, so you still need to carry around your physical IDs.
While officials say the technology keeps personal data safe and secure, some cybersecurity experts say security challenges remain around the database, if information is stolen.
"The real challenge is how the database is going to be protected because there is a lot of information going there," Maurice Dawson, IIT cybersecurity expert, said. "You have, for those who need to prove that they are a U.S. citizen, to get the star on their ID, they have to provide certain documents. All of that information is stored and it's going to be used on that particular database,"
Illinois joins 12 other states and Puerto Rico to offer a mobile ID.
How to use Mobile ID
To present an ID in person, users can go to Apple Wallet and select their Illinois driver's license and state ID.
It would work similar as the "Tap to Pay" feature.
Users will the hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near an identity reader, review the specific information being requested, and use Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate.
Users may need to update their phone or restart it before seeing Illinois on the dropdown menu.
