Digital driver’s licenses are finally getting into the hands of drivers across the pond. The UK government announced that later this year, British drivers will be able to have a digital version of their driver’s license that they can access via a dedicated app.
In a press release, the UK government says the rollout of digital driver’s licenses is part of a broader effort to get people to interact with the government digitally, something they say will help streamline processes and give people easier access to their identification.
A mobile driver’s licence will be one of the first digital documents in a GOV.UK Wallet launched later this year and will ultimately allow people to prove their age from their phone in shops or online, the Science Secretary Peter Kyle announced today.
The GOV.UK Wallet will allow users to securely store government-issued documents on their phone and use them easily when needed. The technology will make use of security features that are built into modern smart phones, including facial recognition checks similar to those used when people pay using a digital bank card. It means that digital documents will be more secure, even if a device is lost.
The UK government says it expects to save £45 billion in “efficiency savings” with this digital switch. Digital licenses will start to be available to drivers starting this summer, and by 2027 the government says the digital wallet app will expand to include things like veteran ID cards and DBS checks, which is a criminal record check that’s used in employment and licensing verifications. The UK joins a growing list of governmental bodies that have rolled out digital licenses for drivers. Here in the U.S., eight states allow drivers to use digital licenses for things like age verification and proving the ability to drive.
There are some pretty big downsides to digital licenses, though. For one, they can be easily forged and hacked. There are still many places, such as airports, that won’t accept digital licenses and IDs as a form of identification yet. And in the unfortunate event you get pulled over and you happen to hand your phone to a cop for them to verify your identity with your digital license, that might be enough of an excuse for them to search your phone. So while these digital tools are great in getting people on board with tech and UK officials say the apps will be safe with features like facial recognition, lets hope both citizens and the UK government are aware of the risks that come with this technology.