Utah has launched a pilot program for mobile driver's licenses (mDL) based on the international mDL standard. The pilot will expand to 10,000 participants this year, including the broader public starting June 1. Participants download the GET Mobile ID app to their phone, which stores the secure digital identification document. People requesting ID —-such as a TSA agent at an airport or a liquor store cashier —-can use any app or reader device compliant with the ISO 18013-5 standard to request the information they need, such as the GET Mobile Verify app. Utah businesses can participate in the pilot to accept mDLs now and prepare for when mDL is available to all Utahns. To start a transaction, the two devices connect via NFC, Bluetooth, or QR code. Both parties have control over which data is exchanged, so only necessary information (such as age, but not address) is shared, enhancing privacy. The ID holder's photo is provided to the requester —-either directly or over the internet —-for visual verification, and a digital signature confirms the mobile ID data. The ISO 18013-5 standard is currently designed for in-person transactions, although future versions are planned to support unattended and over-the-internet transactions as well. The Utah Driver License Division (DLD) tapped GET Group North America and its technology partner Scytáles for this project. Florida recently promised to launch a similar, standards-based mDL program some time in 2021, with technology provided by Thales.


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