Apple is expanding its wallet feature to allow users to store driver’s licenses and personal ID cards.
The tech giant unveiled the idea on Monday in a preview of its updated features for its iOS 15 Wallet, adding that it hopes to make its virtual IDs an acceptable form of identification at airports.
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All of a user’s personal information, including his or her legal name, date of birth, photo, and Real ID status, will be stored in a secure and encrypted manner, according to AppleInsider.
The Transportation Security Administration, the agency tasked with conducting airport security, expressed confidence in the future of mobile apps as forms of identification for travelers.
“The Transportation Security Administration continues to partner with private industry, as appropriate, to adopt new technologies at airport checkpoints to enhance traveler security and experience,” a TSA spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “TSA expects to begin a phased roll out for accepting digital forms of identification, including mobile driver’s licenses and state issued ID cards, at select checkpoints later this year.”
In addition to the ID feature, Apple will expand the types of keys available to be added to the Wallet, including a home smart lock, hotel room keys, and work badges to allow entry into an office or workplace.
The iOS 15 update follows other changes employed by Apple to mitigate security concerns. The company introduced a feature in iOS 14 designed to give users greater control over their information, aiming to put Apple’s customers “in the driver’s seat” by allowing them to opt out of third-party app tracking.
“Privacy means peace of mind, it means security, and it means you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your own data,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said in a press release.
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Though the move was heralded by civil liberties advocates, it was condemned by competitor Facebook, the CEO of which said the new feature was motivated by an “incentive to interfere” with Facebook’s business model.
