Wyoming is the latest to join four other jurisdictions in a Gemalto pilot for digital driver’s licenses (DDLs).
In 2016, Gemalto received a government grant to support the development of a smartphone-based credential in Colorado, Idaho, Maryland and Washington D.C.
This partnership includes a two year grant from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which spearheads the country’s National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, an effort dedicated to securing and protecting privacy in the digital world.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) requested to join the mobile driver’s license pilot with an intent to focus their Phase One efforts mainly on enrollment and law enforcement verification.
As the state shares a border with two other pilot participants, Colorado and Idaho, Wyoming’s involvement also furthers the use case of cross-border verification for out-of-state credentials using the trusted technology made possible by a digital format.
(Learn More, courtesy of ABC Action News and YouTube. Posted on Apr 26, 2017)
“Gemalto’s expertise, as demonstrated by the early pilot results, encouraged us to add a digital companion to our physical card, said Debbie Trojovsky, Program Manager, Driver Services, Wyoming Department of Transportation.
“The digital driver license’s security features, advanced in-field verification, enhanced privacy, and remote update capabilities will allow us to bring improved service to Wyoming residents.”
“With Wyoming’s participation, we are able to further broaden the pilot scope and continue to refine the solution to meet the unique needs presented by different jurisdictions,” added Steve Purdy, vice president of State Government Programs, Gemalto.
“The results of this collaborative initiative will put Wyoming at the forefront of digital identity and provide the foundation for future implementation strategies across the nation and the world.”
What is a DDL and How Would You Use It?
Today almost no one leaves home without their smartphone, especially not the 77 million millennials that live in the United States.
These mobile-first citizens are used to interacting with technology in their daily lives and have come to expect the same level of innovation from their DMV.
A digital driver’s license is a highly secure version of your physical driver’s license or ID card stored on your smartphone.
It is not a replacement for the actual card, rather a supplement to it.
Similar to how credit cards, cash and keys have all begun to evolve to find their place on our smartphones, a digital license on your device means you’ll always have it – even if you leave your wallet or purse at home.
How do you get one? Once DDL has been implemented in your state, the enrollment process will be quite simple.
DDL Enrollment – There’s An App for That
Getting a digital driver’s license is easy. When you apply for a new license or a renewal, you’ll select the DDL option.
The DMV will have a process in place to pair your phone with your profile.
You’ll download an app on your smartphone, complete the pairing, and your DDL will be downloaded and stored securely on your device.
Once downloaded, no one can access your DDL but you. The app is PIN or fingerprint protected.
Presenting your DDL to law enforcement
It will be up to each individual state and local law enforcement agency to determine what procedure and methods work best within their existing protocol.
The idea is that citizens will be able to present their DDL to law enforcement, and law enforcement will have access to all the information they have from the physical card.
Presenting your DDL for age verification
To buy age-restricted goods like alcohol, the cashier will ask to see your ID.
They need to verify it’s a valid ID, that you are above the age restriction and that you are indeed the rightful owner of the ID (face matches the picture).
They don’t need to see your full name, address, and other personal information.
With a DDL, the cashier can scan your DDL and receive real-time confirmation that your ID is valid and you are above the age restriction.
They’ll also be able to perform a visual confirmation that you indeed the person pictured on the DDL.
Using your DDL with TSA
When going through security at the airport, travelers who prefer to use their mobile device will be able to seamlessly present their digital driver’s license using their smartphone.
This is similar to scanning a mobile boarding pass.
Airport security personnel will be able to quickly and easily confirm the validity of the credential, using a trusted document verification process.
