Apple’s digital state ID cards are now available for Maryland residents

Image: MVA / Apple

Maryland is the second state after Arizona to gain the digital identification feature in Apple's wallet app. Residents of the Free State can now use their phones at certain airports, including Baltimore / Washington International and Reagan National. The card is only used to transmit information to a receiving device, and you use your fingerprints to confirm the information is sent to the device.

Digital IDs are not a replacement for physical ones. You will still have to carry your wallet for driving and even flying even though law enforcement does not accept Maryland Mobile ID. The only benefit of the digital ID is that your physical ID can be tucked away at the airports.

There is going to be a bit of confusion along the way, as this is just a start for the digital ID revolution. Adoption will be important if you are looking forward to a future where you don't need a wallet. For residents of Maryland, there are instructional videos on the state's website to help with the push. It is likely that Apple had control over the marketing and other aspects of the deal with each state.

There is concern that once law enforcement is able to access information via these devices, they may ask for you to hand over your phone even though that is not how it works.

A report last year by the American Civil Liberties Union pointed out a number of potential threats to privacy that should be considered, including police access to people. The Department of Homeland Security was asked by the EFF and EPIC to address their concerns before the technology is widely used.

Adding a state ID to your phone requires an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running at least watchOS 8.4, and an Apple 8 or later running at leastiOS 15.4. Once you meet those requirements, you can tap the plus button on the upper-right side of the wallet app, select your state, then follow instructions that include taking pictures of the front and back of your ID. A screen that looks like a Face ID setup screen will prompt you to move your face in certain directions.

Image: MVA / Apple

After completing the process, the data will be transmitted to the state for verification, so the ID may not be available immediately. Once you have it, you can use it at the airport by holding your phone or watch up. It will respond to your digital ID and ask for your permission to continue, similar to how Apple's express transit card works at the Metro or Subway.

In my case, Maryland, the images taken are sent to the state to confirm that I am the one setting it up. Once the process is complete, Apple's overview of Wallet IDs privacy and security state that it rids of the data.

The subset of data from your ID is deleted from Apple servers right after sending your request to the state. Your selfie and the video of your movements are deleted from Apple servers shortly after the state issuing authority approves or denies adding your ID to Apple Wallet.

If the technology is to be trusted, Apple and Maryland say that digital IDs are convenient and secure, and that we finally have a way to identify ourselves without having to hand over our personal data.