Last month, the state of Utah launched a mobile driver license (mDL) pilot with GET Group NA. The pilot, which will allow citizens to use their driver’s licenses and ID cards on mobile phones, is the first to fully utilize a new ISO standard for mDL which will enable greater security and privacy for identity data.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of notable media coverage of the announcement highlighting the importance of privacy and security for ID holders and verifiers in Utah.
- American Security Today Utah Launches New Mobile Driver’s License Pilot
“The pilot will demonstrate an improvement in citizen privacy and security, while also highlighting the convenience and safety of tap and go transactions.”
- Biometric Update Utah trials GET Group’s digital ID in mobile driver’s license pilot
“Utah DLD has incredible foresight and timing to lead the world with standardized mDLs. We are proud to support Utah DLD as they begin launching a full-scale mDL program,” said GET Group North America President and Managing Director Alex Kambanis. “COVID has accelerated the importance of Contactless ID for both citizens and the businesses that accept ID. Utah DLD is providing Utah residents a huge benefit with financial, security, and health-related impacts.”
- ComputerWorld Your iPhone could soon be your driver\’s license (in Utah)
The state is working on a mobile driving license (mDL) using a combination of technologies including NFC and QR codes as digital proof of ID. Holders of the license will be able to choose what personal information is displayed when the QR code is read, or NFC terminal tapped. This can be used in any situation in which you might be expected to present your driving license, including restaurants and bars.
- Government Computer News Utah pilots mobile driver’s license
“All the data is encrypted, and nobody can read any mobile driver’s license without the mDL holder authorizing, or consenting, to that information to be read or consumed by a verifier,” said Scott Vien, director of business development at GET Group North America. “Those sharing options — share age, share all, share address — not only do those limit the amount of data being shared by the choice of the user, but it’s also enabling the ability for the data to be shared,” he said.
- Government Technology Utah’s New Mobile ID Pilot Might Be the Future of Digital ID
Mobile IDs also shift some of the responsibility for determining an ID’s legitimacy from the person checking it to the technology they’re using. Rather than a person needing to memorize the security features to look for on any given state’s cards, verification technology can check it automatically.
That also solves a problem with fake IDs today — they can often fool barcode scanners.
“With those barcodes on the back, there is no way to validate that the data came directly from the issuer,” said David Kelts, product development director of GET Group. “So in fact, good fake IDs have a barcode on the back that is scannable. In this case, using the ISO standard adds that extra layer of check that says, ‘Is this an official ID document?’”
- MeriTalk Utah is Piloting a Mobile Driver’s License With Baked-In Privacy and Security
The pilot program will include 100 participants, the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced. A key benefit of the Utah program is the ability to selectively share information, such as just a picture and proof of age, rather than all the information available on a physical card.
- NFC World Utah to pilot NFC and QR code-enabled mobile driving licenses
“Unlike other pilots, Utah will fully utilise the ISO 18013-5 standard for mDL, which provides the benefit of cryptographic proof of identity that prevents forgery and cannot be achieved by simply showing your phone screen to a clerk at a business.” GET Group North America says.
- Security Document World Utah launches Mobile Driver’s License pilot
“Our Driver License Division is committed to working with residents and stakeholders to implement a solution which provides the highest value to Utahns: one which is accepted anywhere and provides enhanced privacy, security and personal control,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess L. Anderson. “Utahns’ privacy is of the utmost importance to us and the mDL gives them control over their data. They choose what information to share when their identification is requested.”
Given the groundbreaking nature of this pilot program in Utah and what cryptographic proof of ID means for the future of mDL around the world, it has also received international coverage including placements in AsiaOne, Zimbabwe News, Actus France and Nachrichten Aus Berlin.
For more information on the Utah mDL pilot, and how GET Mobile ID is revolutionizing the future of identity, click here.
