Apple recently previewed a thrilling new Digital ID capability. Now, travelers can hold their ID in their digital wallets on their smartphones and seamlessly use it at TSA checkpoints! This new smart and innovative approach accelerates and simplifies the security process at airports. It continues to advance age verification for businesses, in-person and virtual.
Today, the Digital ID feature is offered in a dozen states and Puerto Rico, with hopes for more growth. It’s currently undergoing private beta testing. Consequently, many TSA checkpoint device readers cannot process the Digital ID at this time. Apple is taking impressive steps to improve their user’s convenience with this partial rollout. Unfortunately, the feature is not widely available just yet.
The company’s plan includes a rollout where users can have their Digital IDs available at a moment’s notice. This will ease the burden of age verification across numerous small businesses and institutions. Users will be able to confirm their age when purchasing items such as alcohol and tobacco, which are restricted by age. This means buying alcohol through delivery services such as Uber Eats.
Sarah Perez, long time tech reporter for TechCrunch (since August 2011) and now one of the leading reporters chronicling the impact of this new technology and innovation. Prior to coming on board at TechCrunch, she spent more than three years at ReadWriteWeb. There, she honed her technological reporting skills on a variety of industries including banking, retail and software.
Apple also mentioned that the Digital ID is meant to improve security and coordination for their users. It offers an easy, private, and safe way to confirm identity.
“Driver’s License or ID Cards” – source: “techcrunch.com”
Sarah pairs her journalism and advocacy for broader accessibility. You can email her at sarahp@techcrunch.com or chat with her over Signal at sarahperez.01 for encrypted messaging.
In Sarah’s absence, Megan Mostowy will cover her reporting responsibilities—from what we hear, that’ll involve more time on the road attending TechCrunch’s Disrupt event in San Francisco from Oct. 13-15, 2016. We expect some pretty exciting demonstrations, including innovations like the Digital ID.
