Connecticut residents may soon be able to clear certain TSA checkpoints with digital versions of their driver’s license or state identification card.
In a statement released Wednesday, tech giant Apple announced Connecticut will be one of the first states in the nation to make driver’s licenses available electronically through the company’s Wallet app, which comes pre-installed on iPhones and Apple Watches.
Apple said the Transportation Security Administration is working to set up airport security checkpoints and passenger lanes that can accept Wallet-based digital licenses as proof of identification.
“We’re excited to bring a new addition to our state’s modernization efforts that will make our residents’ lives easier, and keep their identities secure through the use of mobile driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet,” said Gov. Ned Lamont. “We’re pleased to be one of the first states working with Apple to deploy driver’s licenses and state identification cards in Apple Wallet, and we’re looking forward to taking the next steps to make sure this new feature benefits our residents.”
Once the program formally launches, state residents will be able to upload their licenses and ID cards by opening the Wallet app on their iPhones, scanning the physical license or card and taking a picture of themselves, which will be used for verification purposes. Users will also be asked to perform a series of facial and head movements in front of their phone’s camera to ensure they are actually the person depicted in their uploaded documents.
Once a driver’s license or ID card has been added to the Wallet app on an iPhone, it will also appear on that user’s Apple Watch, provided they are using the same Apple account for both devices.
When preparing to board a flight, residents with digital IDs would simply tap their phone or watch on a scanner at a TSA checkpoint, instead of handing over their physical identification.
According to Apple, Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to officially introduce the digital licenses, followed by Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah.
Apple did not say when the new capability will come online.
Beyond the TSA, it was not immediately clear what other government agencies or services might eventually accept digital licenses as proof of identification.
Appearing to anticipate potential privacy concerns, Apple officials underscored that Wallet-based driver’s licenses and ID cards, like all data on Apple mobile devices, will be encrypted and protected behind biometric authentication safeguards. Users will not have to hand over their devices for their licenses to be scanned, the company said, and Apple and the issuing states will not know when or where residents present their identification.
Apple users also have the ability, through the Find My app, to locate lost or stolen devices and wipe their data remotely if necessary.
