Google reported that one of the top requests for digitising everyday items is a digital ID. Responding to demand, the company is working to allow users to store their US passport in Google Wallet.
Although some state-issued digital IDs have been compatible with Google Wallets since last year, on Thursday the tech giant announced it will begin beta testing a new type, “giving more people in more places a way to create and store a digital ID, now with a US passport.”
The process of creating the ID pass only takes a few minutes, with users following prompts in the Google Wallet app to scan the security chip in your passport, take a selfie video, and wait for the pass to be finalised.
For now, this form of ID can only be used at select TSA checkpoints for domestic travel and cannot be used as a replacement for physical ID.
However, Google is working with governments, regulators, and relying parties to expand their use. This is big news for the industry, but the implications of digital ID go well beyond travel. In an article written the Group Product Manager of Google Wallet, Alan Stapelberg said:
“Digital ID adoption will truly scale when daily use cases like driving a car, picking up prescriptions and more can be done with a digital ID. There’s also a future where digital IDs can be used for things like online tax filing, signing a home loan, opening a bank account or signing up for medical benefits — all from your phone. And the industry is working to make these things happen.”
At World Aviation Festival, Serdar Gurbuz will be doing presentation on revolutionising air travel payments with digital wallets. Book your ticket now to be a part of the discussion!
For more like this see:
- Secure, seamless, and inclusive: How governments can accelerate digital IDs adoption
- One ID and its benefits
- From physical passport to Digital Travel Credential (DTC)
