ILLINOIS INTRODUCED DIGITAL DOCUMENTS: Driver’s licenses and ID cards are now on phones!

Residents of Illinois can now add their driver’s licenses and state ID cards to Apple Wallet and use them as digital identification, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced. The system has been active since mid-November for iPhone and Apple Watch, while it is expected to be expanded to Android devices (Google and Samsung Wallet) in the coming months.

Digital ID cards are already accepted at O’Hare and Midway airports, as well as at some major venues, including Soldier Field stadium for age verification when purchasing alcohol. However, widespread application in everyday situations is still limited, as many businesses still do not have the necessary readers or applications for verification.

Giannoulias emphasized that digital cards do not replace physical ones — drivers must still carry paper licenses, and police are not obliged to accept the digital version. Digital ID allows for selective information sharing, which protects user privacy during age or identity verification.

How the new law works

Earlier this year, a law came into force enabling the state of Illinois to issue digital driver’s licenses and ID cards for the first time.

The law allows users to add their driver’s licenses and state ID cards to iPhone and Apple Watch, while Google and other devices will follow later.

The Secretary of State’s office stated that earlier this year it worked on defining the parameters of such a system.

„The office’s first step will be the development of the highest security standards and rigorous testing to protect sensitive information and the privacy of residents,“ the statement said. „The office will apply best practices from states that have already introduced digital ID cards and use new technology to implement the best and most modern digital ID card program in the country.“

With mobile IDs and driver’s licenses, residents will be able to decide which personal information they want to share via contactless, encrypted data exchange between the device and the reader. Such cards can be used for purchasing alcohol, cannabis, or renting a car, while hiding other personal data, such as the address.

„Mobile driver’s licenses and ID cards allow our residents to protect their personal data,“ said one of the co-sponsors of the law, Senator Michael Hastings. „There is no reason for age verification to require residents to reveal sensitive data like an address when we have technology that allows selective information sharing.“

Also, showing a mobile driver’s license or ID card does not mean consent to a search of the device, according to Senator Hastings’ statement. Twelve federal states already offer mobile forms of identification, while at least 18 others are currently working on implementation.

Some groups, including the ACLU, previously expressed concern about mobile ID cards, fearing that police could search a phone without proper consent. The law in Illinois explicitly prohibits police from searching a phone after seeing a mobile ID card.

Hastings emphasized that a key feature of the law is the „requirement that mobile driver’s licenses and IDs use an electronic credential system – like a barcode system – to ensure that individuals do not have to hand over their device to the requesting party.“

Will mobile driver’s licenses replace physical ones?

Giannoulias states that mobile driver’s licenses will not replace physical ones, but will function as a supplement to them.

„We are excited to have reached a point where we can implement mobile ID cards in a way that ensures safety on our roads and the privacy of residents, while still allowing police, businesses, and medical professionals access to information that requires physical driver’s licenses and ID cards,“ said Giannoulias.