Google has begun beta testing new support for driver licenses and state ID cards for the Wallet app on Android — but only if you live in the state of Maryland.
It’s been a while since we last saw the digital ID feature. It was first revealed all the way back in May in the Google IO event as part of a revival of the long-neglected Wallet app. According to a Google support page (opens in a new tab), the feature will be approved by the Transportation Security Administration (aka TSA) “at select supported airports,” although the agency did not say which airports they are. However, the TSA has a Full list of participating airports (opens in a new tab) on its website from across the United States including Maryland’s Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
For interested Marylanders, there are several requirements that must be met. Your smartphone must be equipped with Android 8.0 or higher. You also need to be a tester in Google Play Services Public Beta Program (opens in a new tab). A screen lock must be set and both Bluetooth and the Nearby Devices tool must be enabled.
Installing
Google says it will take a few days from the time you join the program to receive a digital ID. If you still haven’t got the beta after a few days, the company asks you to submit a report so it can help you
Once you download the digital ID support, a new “ID Card (beta)” entry will appear in the app. You take a photo of both sides of your ID as well as a short video of yourself. Google Wallet will then send a screenshot of the video to the “ID issuer for verification”. The issuer, in this case, could be the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), which issues ID cards in the state. Presumably, when the digital ID is rolled out nationally, the app will use the MVA of an equivalent state.
Not mentioned on support page, beta comes with three security features (opens in a new tab): Easy, Private and Secure. Looking at the description, Easy shows all the identification information of the digital ID for the TSA checkpoints. Privacy allows you to control what is shared and who can see it. Securely encrypt your ID so you’re the only one who can see it.
The company states that “some features may not work as expected” at this stage and recommends that people still carry a physical ID card with them. And as for the nationwide release, a company representative told us that Google doesn’t have a specific date yet because it “just started testing in Maryland…”
Protect your identity
The state of Maryland is no stranger to digital ID technology. Apple launches digital ID (opens in a new tab) for its Wallet app in September 2021, allowing users from several states, including Maryland, to use digital IDs at TSA checkpoints. Maryland Cell ID (opens in a new tab), in particular, there are even Easy, Private and Secure levels of security to protect iPhone owners. It’s good to see mobile devices using this technology for the sake of convenience, but we can’t help but worry if the technology makes phones a bigger target for identity theft. With a digital ID, you have even more personal data on your phone.
If this identity security issue concerns you, we recommend that you check out TechRadar’s recent update best identity theft prevention list for 2022 to enhance your security.
