Florida mobile driver’s licenses ready to launch
Thales is providing verification and other services to the program set to begin next year
09 December, 2020
category: Digital ID, Government, Transit
Applications will be accepted for the Florida mobile driver’s licenses in 2021, and the state has tapped Thales to provide verification and other services for that digital ID program.
As Thales put it, Florida stands as the first state in the U.S. to provide mobile driver’s licenses that not only have leading-edge security mechanisms but are fully compliant with rigorous national and international standards. Thales will supply the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles with the technology for those digital IDs.
Users of mobile driver’s licenses control what information is displayed from the app depending on the context
The Florida mobile driver’s licenses will be easily accessible on a variety of devices, including smartphones and tablets, Thales said. These mobile driver’s Licenses meet the national and international standards from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the International Organization for Standardization, meaning they can be used across the U.S. and internationally.
Florida mobile driver’s licenses provide digital ID authentication
These new mobile driver’s licenses will have the same validity as traditional driver’s licenses to verify identity, including proof of age and driving privileges. It also provides an additional role as a strong authentication tool, enabling Floridians to securely prove who they are online for a variety of services — a foreshadowing, perhaps, of the future of digital ID services at the state level.
Florida residents will be able to simply activate their mobile identification application, select the type of verification needed, and hold up their mobile device. The mobile device never leaves the owner’s hand, making it a contact-free and convenient way to show ID.
“I’m excited for this innovation project that will make the state of Florida a national leader in offering secure and trusted mobile identification, which is a priority for our Governor, Ron DeSantis,” said Terry L. Rhodes, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. “We have made a sustained commitment to the modernization of nearly every aspect of what our department does and how customers access our services, and Thales will be a great partner as Florida now steps into the future of mobile identification.”
Thales said these mobile driver’s licenses are harder to counterfeit, as they host a secure digitized credential whose authenticity can be checked rather than simply displaying a digital image of a driver license that could be easily manipulated.
For stronger privacy, users of mobile driver’s licenses control what information is displayed from the app depending on the context. For example, to enter a casino it only needs to show that the individual is old enough and the mobile driver’s license will just display that information – not the individual’s name, date of birth, or address.
“As ID fraud becomes more frequent and sophisticated, we made it a priority to reinforce ID verification by adding extra software security technologies. In the future, enterprises such as airports, hotels, car rental companies, etc., in Florida will be able to rely on Thales to identify customers, while guaranteeing their privacy,” said Tony Lo Brutto, VP NORAM, identity and biometric solutions at Thales.
Thales said that is also provides technology to state identity programs for 11 other U.S. states and five Canadian provinces.
