Secure Technology Alliance launches Mobile Driver’s License Initiative
08 October, 2019
category: Digital ID, Government, Transit
The new Secure Technology Alliance’s Mobile Driver’s License Initiative highlights the fact that mDLs are on a faster road to mainstream adoption than was the case just a year or two ago.
The mDL market is developing rapidly – more than a dozen states are in varying stages of implementation
The trade group for the digital identity and security industry launched the Mobile Driver’s License Initiative, “to raise awareness, support development, accelerate adoption and educate the U.S. market on the technology and applications for state-issued mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs),” according to a new announcement. “The Alliance initiative includes participation from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, driver’s license technology providers, mobile technology providers, security providers, testing organizations, and relying parties including retailers, financial institutions and government security agencies.”
Mobile driver’s license programs in more than 12 states
This new initiative debuts as energy builds around mobile driver’s licenses in the United States. “The mDL market is developing rapidly – more than a dozen states are in varying stages of implementation,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Secure Technology Alliance. “There is an urgent need for businesses and services providers – from retailers and financial institutions to healthcare providers and other organizations – who rely on customers having trusted forms of identification to become educated on mDLs and evaluate how they could benefit from a strongly vetted, standards-based mobile ID.”
The Secure Technology Alliance envisions a variety of tasks centered around mobile driver’s licenses, activities that could help spark further tests and deployments of that particular form of digital ID. Broadly speaking, the trade group plans to offer guidance on the security of mobile driver’s licenses, along with other educational resources, and encourage industry discussions about the digital ID technology.
Mobile Driver’s License Initiative workshop
More specifically, the Secure Technology Alliance will offer, via this Mobile Driver’s License Initiative, “educational resources, documentation of relevant uses, webinars and industry-focused workshops that will support relying parties, requirement setters, and integrator awareness and decision making,” according to the statement. “By participating in these activities, product and service solution providers gain insights to market needs, requirements and opportunities within the developing privacy-enhanced mobile identity ecosystems.”
The first workshop from the initiative took place in August in Atlanta, GA. “Workshop participants gathered to learn about mDLs and develop and understand retail-focused use cases,” according to an announcement. “The workshop was highly interactive, with more than 60 total attendees discussing the mDL ecosystem.”
