Episode 147: The future of the driver license as an identifier
15 September, 2015
category: Biometrics, Digital ID, Government, Smart Cards
World leaders in the identity management industry will be in Washington D.C. September 28 and 29 for the 7th edition of the eID Conference. Some 300 delegates are expected for panel discussions and keynotes speeches about the global eID infrastructure, driver license technology and the digitalization of citizen ID documents.
“It’s an opportunity for both government and industry to come together to talk about how electronic identity is going to assist us in getting to the next level in our identity management related efforts,” says Geoff Slagle, identity management director for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
Conference topics include:
- ePassports & eID Cards
- Multi-application eIDs
- Document Identity Security & Protection of the integrity of identification of Documents
Two potentially interesting agenda items for the U.S. attendees are the Virginia digital identity law and the eDriver’s License panel, where panelist Slagle expects to discuss the historical role of the driver license as an identifier. “More people use their driver license for its identification value than they ever do to prove that they have the privilege to drive,” Slagle says. “Where all of that started had little to do with the actual agencies that create and issue the actual license and more to do with everybody else that’s out there.”
Virginia’s new digital identity law – the first in America designed to help citizens protect themselves from fraud online through strong multi-factor authentication – may literally help drive the move toward standardization of a mobile driver license.
The state of Iowa is continuing with its mobile DL pilot for Department of Transportation employees. But Slagle says the digital license will – for the foreseeable future – supplement the physical card, not replace it. “Clearly there are going to be certain scenarios where a mobile DL just simply won’t work, and it could be as simple as someone just doesn’t have the infrastructure to actually verify or to interact with a mobile DL,” Slagle says.
Slagle spoke with Regarding ID’s Gina Jordan about the upcoming conference and the work toward an e-Driver’s license.
