It appears that Google Wallet is striving even further into the realm of digital identification, as recently, the company has integrated a feature that turns US passports into digital forms of IDs. This announcement made on the official blog of Google, if successfully implemented, could redefine the concept of identity proofing at airports and other sensitive establishments.
With the introduction of this feature, clienteles of Google Wallet will be in a position to use their cell phones as identification tools on some of the TSA points in a number of airports in United States. This means that the days where travelers needed to rummage through their pockets and bags looking for the physical passport as they stand in line at airport security could soon be things of the past.
Streamlining the Airport Experience
The introduction of passport information into Google Wallet is meant to make the experience in the airports more convenient for a person. One of the major rationales for the need to have mobile passports is that the process of passing through TSA checkpoints becomes easier and hassle free. This development entails with the evolution of such things such as mobile payment,online identification among other things in the society.
Though, it is significant to understand that not all the airports will be able to provide this new feature instantly. Until the latest announcement, 21 states, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico had one airport that embraced digital ids at the checkpoint. Currently, a traveler can check on a map provided by TSA in their website to see whether the airports of departure or arrival are using Google Wallet’s digital ID feature.
The Rise of Digital Identification
The use of digital identification as been gradually increasing in the United States with users of both Android and iPhone enjoying the benefits that come with using the digital IDs. Before the passport in Google Wallet, some of the big airports in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia had embraced adoption of state IDs presented through Google Wallet. Also, California recently started accepting IDs from both Apple wallet and google wallet at some of its airport.
The main change of focus to digital identification does not belong exclusively to the travel industry only. Healthcare, banking and other government services are currently considering using digital IDs to improve security and reduce fraud and provide better customer experiences. Since there are more states and institutions that realize the effectiveness of the use of digital identification, the necessity to check the unique digital profile, more sphere should notice digital identification in the future.
Addressing Security Concerns
As much as it is intriguing to think of Google Wallet as a way to store and to provide informations about passports, one has to worry about the destination and security of this data. Google has stated that the protection of users’ personal information is of utmost importance which is why Google uses very high encryption standards as well as authentications to ensure that the digital IDs cannot be accessed, modified, or duplicated without authority.
In addition, before the measures of digital IDs will be implemented at the checkpoints of TSA, they will have to go through the tests of verification like any conventional passports. TSA agents will still have to verify the real and genuine nature of the digital ID and compare it with the holder. This is a triple layered approach to security while trying to uphold the identification process’s purity with the help of the digital technology.
