Iowa is testing smartphone-based driver’s licenses

In recent years we’ve heard about the idea of replacing the plastic driver’s license with a digital one. At this day in age, the thought isn’t far-fetched, and now Iowa has taken the first step in making it a reality. The Midwestern state announced it’s beginning a test program called the Mobile Driver License (mDL) for a number of different situations, but is limited to employees of the state’s Department of Transportation.

Though digital, the new licenses feature the same information as their physical counterparts, including a photo, name, address, and date of birth. But instead of being stuffed in a wallet, this information is stored in a user’s smartphone. Currently the mDL displays a layout of information in the same way as an ordinary driver’s license — it just appears as if someone took a photo of it with their phone. To see the back of the license, users can make a swipe gesture across the screen to flip it over, revealing additional information such as the barcode, license class, and restrictions. 

Iowa's test program, the Mobile Driver License. Image source: Mashable.

So what are the advantages here? The DMV could push out near-instant updates, such as address or last name changes, as well as a clear indicator that a driver has just turned 21-years-old, for example. A digital license can also quickly show that restrictions have been placed on a person’s driving privileges.

Understandably, the test also brings up a number of privacy concerns, including carrying such sensitive data on your phone, and being at risk to hackers and malware. While police officers won’t need to touch someone’s phone, the verification process is described as being similar to scanning a QR code off another screen. Although the US Supreme Court has ruled that police must get a warrant before searching someone’s phone, if the process of checking a person’s identity directly involves their smartphone, it could easily lead to privacy invasions that wouldn’t be possible if a plastic card were to be used.

Of course the state of Iowa recognizes these concerns, but says such implementation of mDL is a long way off, as this is just an early test program limited to one area. A representative of the Iowa Department of Transportation said the lessons they learn from the trial will determine how the mDL could be used in the future, if it ever becomes available as an option to drivers. 

Source: Mashable