In June, Apple Pay VP Jennifer Bailey announced that the TSA was “working to enable” airport checkpoints to become the “first place you can use your digital ID”. Now, this seems to be happening in the next few months. TSA will support Apple Wallet IDs in two airports starting February next year. Also, if the tests show positive results, TSA will expand to two more states by March.
However, it is still unclear which US airports will participate in the program. Apple promised that this feature will be seen first in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Utah, Oklahoma, and Maryland.
The Apple Wallet will be the first digital ID accepted by TSA. However, TSA is looking to also accept other platforms in the future. Security Technology Alliance’s event recap explained that “Instead of TSA staff examining physical ID card, manually comparing a traveler’s ID photo to their face, and verifying flight information, a machine will automate the process”.
Travelers will only have to tap an NFC reader or have it scanned via a QR scanner. The recap added that “TSA staff member will be present to oversee and validate the verification process”.
Apple Wallet Functioning as a Conventional ID
During WWDC 2021, Apple announced that Apple Wallet will soon function as a conventional ID such as a driver’s license. Plus, this new system will also become a hotel key as Apple partnered with Hyatt. According to Apple, it is a more secure and convenient way to provide credentials. It can also reduce instances of fraud when combined with biometric security features such as Face ID.
Americans commonly use their driver’s license for personal identification. Unfortunately, some are questioning the integration of state-issued IDs in Apple’s system. Privacy experts are concerned that a trillion-dollar corporation can have access to people’s information. Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to allow residents to integrate their state ID to their Apple Wallet and Apple Watch.
Bailey in a press statement said that “The addition of driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Watch is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet”.
