Mobile ID, introduced on Nov. 19, enables residents to add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to their Apple Wallet, providing a secure way to carry their ID with them at all times. As of now, residents will need to bring their physical ID everywhere they go, regardless of whether they have activated their Mobile ID or not, since Mobile ID is not a replacement for a physical ID.
The new Mobile ID has quickly become one of the most convenient add-ons for teens and adults, as it can be used in most locations requiring identification, such as airports and restaurants.
Users now have a more secure way of keeping their information private, as well as a convenient method of identifying themselves at all times. The Mobile ID is secured in the Apple Wallet, which is protected by Face ID, and Apple receives no information regarding when or where the ID is presented. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias explains the effectiveness of the Mobile ID in a press conference regarding the launch.
“[This] means that your ID now lives securely in the same place that you already tap to pay for groceries, present a boarding pass for a flight, or enter a concert,” Giannoulias said. “All protected by the same cutting-edge privacy and encryption technology that you trust every day on the devices that you already love.”
Using the Mobile ID is as simple as paying through Apple Wallet at a grocery store. All it involves is a quick tap on the card reader, making it more convenient and efficient for both people and businesses.
Along with this, users can choose to hide whatever information they want when presenting their ID at various locations.
According to Ilsos.gov, “Once an ID is added to Apple Wallet, the information is encrypted on a user’s device, so others — including Apple — cannot access it unless a user chooses to present it.”
This also applies to businesses, which have received a free Mobile ID Verifier App to validate a person’s age when making restrictive purchases. The Mobile ID is currently available for anyone with an Apple phone, but the feature will soon expand to Google and Samsung devices as well.
The Mobile ID marks a new milestone in digital identification, and it will soon be available for every Illinois resident to use.
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