Californians can now add their mobile driver's license to Google Wallet

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/08/23/californians-can-now-add-their-mobile-drivers-license-to-google-wallet/

by smlacy • 2 years ago

69 70 2 years ago

gov.ca.gov

nikolay• 2 years ago

We can't. My mDL has been "under review" for 2 weeks!

9cb14c1ec0• 2 years ago

Oh no, I can just imagine a future in which anti-fraud features mistakenly block my digital-only drivers license, leaving me screaming at a stupid customer support chatbot as some CEO brags about how the use of AI in said chatbot is improving customer satisfaction.

snerbles• 2 years ago

I've already had this happen with a new MacBook - attempting to link an old account tripped a fraud flag with the device and now Apple refuses to even allow the creation of a new account, with an accompanying vague error after the process.

At least today I can just limp along with Homebrew. I doubt self-hosting mDLs are in anyone's plans.

TheCleric• 2 years ago

Do not hand your phone to a cop. Ever.

giantg25• 2 years ago

It wouldn't surprise me if this sort of digital ID becomes mandatory or default in rhe next 20 years. Imagine a world where you need to upload your license to the canbus, biometrically identify, and breathalyze for the car to start...

BadHumans• 2 years ago

This is where things are headed although I'm not sure it will be dystopian as you imagine. There is not point in requiring digital ID for a breathalyzer.

dheera• 2 years ago

Except Google Wallet doesn't let me use these features anyway because I have a rooted device

reaperducer• 2 years ago

and breathalyze for the car to start

This is old tech. I had a boss in the 90's who had an ignition interlock thing on his car and it wouldn't start unless he blew clean.

I found out about it when he was trying to find someone at work to blow into it so he could go home.

It wasn't until a couple of days later that I put it together that he managed to get so drunk during working hours that he couldn't drive himself home.

elicash• 2 years ago

I think it could depend on the protections Google (and Apple) puts on this type of thing.

You could imagine a scenario where putting a phone into driver's license mode disables Face Unlock, and maybe even pauses all push notifications like text messages, and therefore is more secure because it forces people to put their phone into a password mode. So it'd actually encourage people, when talking to law enforcement, to increase their security settings.

I don't know if these companies currently do it like this, but they should.

barkerja• 2 years ago

Apple's approach with Wallet is to allow the transmission of (selective) ID data without fully unlocking your phone. I believe it's the same as when you tap to pay using a credit card in your wallet. You must provide passcode/biometrics when requested, but that does not unlock your device.

bryanlarsen• 2 years ago

You should never need to hand your phone over for any other usage of Google Wallet, so hopefully most people realize that they shouldn't hand it over for this ever.

raldi• 2 years ago

"You don't need to unlock, show, or hand over your device to present your license or ID."

https://support.apple.com/en-us/118237

modeless2• 2 years ago

You'll be happy to know that the UI for this prominently states that you should not hand your phone to the person requesting ID. ID information is not shown on your screen. It's sent via Bluetooth after an NFC tap and a confirmation dialog.

puppycodes4• 2 years ago

"my nfc reader is down, unlock your phone" -- every cop

threatofrain• 2 years ago

On one hand the only motivation this can serve is to protect your privacy, since now you can disclosure a minimal amount of information, on the other hand government routinely buys foreign services to break into phones and so you're basically handing someone your whole life.

giantg25• 2 years ago

I assume this is only valid in that state. I bet most states want to seethe physical card if you are driving outside of CA.

kylehotchkiss• 2 years ago

I'd assume they'd be happier if you forget it to increase the chance of a sweet sweet flyover state civil asset forfeiture™

Shank• 2 years ago

From the mDL pilot program website [0]:

1. Continue to carry your physical driver’s license or state-issued ID card. Law enforcement, state government agencies, and businesses aren’t yet accepting the mDL.

2. The mDL is currently authorized for limited usage. There are many participating airports across the United States.

Right now the only main use case is tap-and-fly (can I make this term a thing?) where you don’t need to present your ID to TSA at select airports. Also, it has a nice design and looks cool.

The best use case is probably that it can work as a backup if you forget your ID at home when you’re trying to board a plane, or if you want to simplify what’s in your pockets prior to boarding.

[0] https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/ca-dmv-wallet/

martinbaun• 2 years ago

Am I the only one who is a little wary of this? Google having your drivers license and starting to partner up with the government?

0xbadcafebee• 2 years ago

What exactly are you wary of? Both of them already know where you live, and the government already buys private databases with all your information in it.

akira25014• 2 years ago

"Due to an account problem your mobile ID cannot be used at this time."

snark removed.

inferiorhuman2• 2 years ago

I, for one, do not want to give the cops access to or a reason to take possession of my phone.

puppycodes4• 2 years ago

"What exactly are you wary of?"

Take a look at cases that involve violations of the 4th amendment by cops and the insane hurdle that is qualified immunity and you will find out.

southernplaces72• 2 years ago

So of course then it's okay if the tangled web of corporate/government co-surveillance weaves tighter and people become partially beholden to a tech giant known for being even more opaque and user-hostile than the government itself.

teaearlgraycold2• 2 years ago

I know the lead on this project. He’s pretty convinced this is a net positive. For example, you’ll be able to verify your age at a bar without the bouncer seeing your address.

Fogest• 2 years ago

Where I live many places even use scanners to scan the barcodes on the back of ID. They claim this is to do things like banning people from the establishment and to try and prevent issues with fakes. However I really don't believe this excuse and think it has more to do with tracking who is visiting their establishments. Even though I'd rather not have Google storing my ID, I'd trust it A LOT more than a sketchy club/bar having such information.

pa7ch• 2 years ago

Passport cards are legal IDs and don't show your address. Also they avoid you needing a realID higjly recommend. At this rate you'll never need a realID to fly.

prmoustache2• 2 years ago

Is your address on your driver's license? That would be stupid. Even the one I have on my national ID card which actually expires at some point is totally useless as it is not even in the country I am living now and I moved 4 times since it was issued.

m463• 2 years ago

Yes, they are also part of the DMV website, the FTB website, the IRS website, ...

there should be a law against this.

hulitu• 2 years ago

Google partnered with the government a long time ago. The other companies also. That's where the money comes from.

oliwarner• 2 years ago

What is there to be weary of? It's a photo and a QR link for CA cops to be able to look up your database record.

Google isn't getting any significant data here, AFAICS.

skylurk• 2 years ago

I think Google should be wary, if this is ever popular, it's going to attract a lot of regulation.

93po• 2 years ago

Google has been giving the government unlimited access to the entirety of their servers and data for 20+ years

ChrisArchitect• 2 years ago

Hawai'i-Issued Real IDs Can Be Added to Apple Wallet Beginning August 28

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41395050

kopirgan• 2 years ago

Why is this even news?! I don't know about USA but in India you can store licenses, vehicle ID cards, school certificates, insurance and hundreds of other state or federal issued documents in an app -Digilocker for years now.

seanmcdirmid• 2 years ago

I believe Utah is the only US state where you can carry your ID digitally on your phone and use it to buy alcohol or give it to police during a traffic stop. If California moves in that direction, it will be a big deal; soon we could leave home with just our phone without any analog cards.

2143• 2 years ago

For those who don't know, Digilocker is a govt initiative.

Also, it is opt-in and not mandatory. If you don't want to use it then don't bother. Nobody will force you to install the app or attach it with any of your docs.

anal_reactor• 2 years ago

Some European countries already had such apps for years too, although we're still waiting for EU-wide system to be adopted.

parpfish• 2 years ago

“Sorry officer, I can’t show you my ID because my battery died”

ldbooth• 2 years ago

I applied via Google wallet and was automatically rejected. Seems like a beta at the moment ... The rejection email worked flawlessly however.

puppycodes4• 2 years ago

I guarentee you this will let cops arrest you for not unlocking your phone because you "won't provide ID" and thus you are obstructing...

freehorse• 2 years ago

I dont know how it works with android, but on an iphone you can open your apple wallet without unlocking your phone.

puppycodes4• 2 years ago

They demand you unlock it is how it works ;)

just because its possible to show it without unlocking it, doesn't mean they wont demand it.

Its techically legal for me to walk around with an AK 47 and a ski mask in my neighborhood but your most definitly getting ur rights violated by a swat team.

janalsncm• 2 years ago

Other than the airport, there doesn’t seem to be any benefit. If I still need to carry my ID card this is not really more convenient.

manchmalscott• 2 years ago

I’m not sure I really understand the benefit to having your drivers license on your phone. “You can use it at TSA!” Cool but I’m already using my phone for my boarding pass. I guarantee you the friction and additional time to scan the boarding pass and then switch to the drivers license and scan that (when typically these are done in parallel) is going to make that use case a complete non-starter. Best case scenario someone tries it out and realizes it completely messes up the workflow and never uses it again.

Californians can now add their mobile driver's license to Google Wallet

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