Delaware Wants to Digitize Driver’s Licenses

As smartphones increasingly become like digital wallets with the rollout of features like Apple Pay and online identification becoming more common, it is only a matter of time before people become confident enough to put more sensitive information on their phones beyond just bank cards. In Delaware, that next step may be on its way with the adoption of digital driver’s licenses.

Initially reported in The News Journal, the Delaware State Senate adopted a resolution that would task the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles to research the feasibility of digital driver’s licenses that can be accessible by a smartphone app. While some of the specifics will have to be worked out, Engadget reports that the app will be protected using biometric security, such as facial recognition or fingerprints as well as a layer of code to ensure that the identities of drivers are protected from cyber fraud.

Although the resolution was just passed by the Senate, MorphoTrust, the state’s main technology partner, has been working on the technology on its own for a few years already. MorphoTrust USA is also a licensed vendor in 41 other states, notably Iowa, which is working on its own pilot program for a digital driver’s license that is expected to debut in 2016.

“Smartphones are becoming more and more a digital wallet. Eventually, the last piece of plastic I need to carry around with me is a driver’s license,” said Jenny Openshaw, MorphoTrust USA’s vice president for state and local sales.

Despite the enthusiasm from the company, there are a lot of concerns that still need to be addressed and misconceptions that have to be cleared up. According to the company tasked with developing the technology, the digital driver’s license will be a “convenience” rather than a replacement of the physical card, which will still be distributed. Security experts also raise concerns over data security and privacy of having a driver’s license on a government-created app that gets transmitted to the phone. In terms of practicality, the digital license will only work in areas with adequate cell service, or in places like courthouses which ban mobile phones but may still require ID to be presented inside the building.

There is also a concern regarding the trust citizens have with giving the police their smartphones when pulled over, according to a board member of the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Council, which can contain information drivers don’t necessarily want to share with police. MorphoTrust has said that it is working on a way to lock smartphones once a license is on the screen so that police can’t access additional information, as well as a way of transferring driver’s license information to the police without the phone leaving the driver’s hand.

Even still, supporters remain upbeat that it will be successful once the security and privacy issues are ironed out.