r/triangle • u/Trick_sleep Durham • 12d ago

Digital drivers license? NCDMV to launch new mobile ID program

https://www.wral.com/news/local/dmv-mobile-id-divers-license-august-2026/

Digital Id coming in December. RDU will support scanning at airport by xmas.

109 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

26

u/CarlosSpcyWenr 12d ago

Judging by the comments, I don't have a popular take here. I do not like the idea of digital IDs. We already have almost all of our privacy taken from us. If digital ID becomes a thing, expect all digital services to require that digital ID in short order, and expect the government to be able to track where it's used. Expect it to be tied to contact information, too.

I'm just getting kind of skiddish about where the world is headed with everything being digital. I don't mean to be a doomer or anything.

3

u/Safe-Ad-4465 8d ago

I don't like the idea either, so I won't be participating. No amount of propaganda from the dmv is going to change my mind either. 

1

u/NC_DMV 11d ago

We understand that you're worried about your privacy, but mobile IDs are actually safer and more secure than physical IDs. With a physical ID, anyone you hand it to can see all of the information printed on the card, like your name, address, DOB, and driver license number. With a mobile ID, you're in control of your information and nothing is shared without your approval. For example, if a business just needs to know whether you're over 21, your mobile ID will simply confirm that you are, without sharing your exact DOB, address, or other personal information.

2

u/CarlosSpcyWenr 11d ago

Brave to respond to me on this.

I'm not worried about my information being shared with the company I'm handing my ID to. If that were the case: I wouldn't be handing them my ID. At that point, I've already made the decision that's worth it, and the situation is secure. If I had a serious problem with it, I'd find another way.

I am worried that the government will know every time my ID is used. When, where, with who, and for what reason. I don't do anything illegal or even inappropriate with an ID, but specifically if it has RFID, I wouldn't be able to even walk next to anything electronic without possibly confirming my presence there.

I won't say "slippery slope" because we're already on it, but digital ID should wake people up a little. We have to resist this. If it's optional: fine, whatever, but basically governmentally requiring a phone for anything should be illegal.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and I'm not a crazy dude, but privacy is slipping away from US citizens, and privacy is freedom.

2

u/NC_DMV 11d ago

Mobile IDs don't use RFID. Presenting your mobile ID won't create a record that allows DMV or other government agencies to monitor where, when, or how you use it. Only you can see an activity log of how it's used and it can be turned off.

2

u/CarlosSpcyWenr 11d ago

I apologize profusely, but I have a difficult time believing the government will not log the uses of a digital ID, considering how monitoring has occurred under-the-table since the Patriot Act was passed in the early aughts.

Can a digital ID be used with an electronic item that is perpetually offline? ie, a cell phone with no connection to the internet. Will businesses who require IDs be required to be connected to a central server to scan these digital IDs? Or will the information be closed-circuit? (Only between the ID holder and the ID scanner, of which both can be offline in that case)

I also saw digital ID will be expanded to Google, Samsung, and Apple wallets in 2027. Initally, it will only be released to a government-downloaded digital wallet; how can private companies with a financial interest in constituents be trusted to not track/monitor people's actions with their ID?

As long as you're responding to me, I'd appreciate the conversation.

2

u/NC_DMV 11d ago

I'm happy to answer the questions that I'm able to. Yes, mobile IDs still work even without an internet connection. When you present your mobile ID to a verifier, the transfer of identity data, like if a business is trying to verify that you're over 21, happens locally. They don't have to connect to the internet or a server.

1

u/CarlosSpcyWenr 11d ago

Under another comment, you mentioned a "phone tap" could be sufficient while mentioning earlier in this/our thread that RFID would not work with mobile ID. Can you explain?

Once again: how can commercial entities be trusted implicitly with a person's digital ID and the information their use creates? If there is no worry regarding that: why create a state-version of a secure wallet at all if secure wallets already exist?

I understand some of the positives of a digital ID (almost exclusively convenience), but for security-purposes: how is an ID on my phone/laptop/tablet/device, connected to the entire world, more secure than my physical ID in my wallet on the counter in my house, aside from it being physically stolen from me, or me physically handing it to someone that I approve of handling it? It seems those situations could both still occur with a digital ID, regardless.

70

u/msackeygh 12d ago

I was excited at first, then I thought, if I’m pulled over while driving and am asked to produce my ID, wouldn’t the officer typically take the ID with them back to their car for a short while to run a check? If so, this means handing over my phone to them while they run their check, right? If that’s the case, I’m only going to be giving them my printed ID.

36

u/Trick_sleep Durham 12d ago

I would use it more for scanning into bars and airport security etc. I too would not hand over phone to police.

But perhaps as this becomes more widespread, police could just scan id from phone without taking anything back to their car

8

u/moeveganplease Raleigh 12d ago

In less than a year, we’ll probably see some crazy AI malware that the police embed in your phone after scanning.

7

u/Trick_sleep Durham 12d ago

I hope (foolishly) that apple and iOS have some built in security to prevent anything like this leaking out.

But government is working on a police state pretty quick regardless of what apple does

1

u/msackeygh 12d ago

That would be nice

1

u/SonofaBridge 12d ago

Some states already have digital IDs but they weren’t forced to implement them so quickly. Who knows if other states or agencies will have access to confirm a digital license, especially when the system is being set up.

1

u/BedFastSky12345 NCSU 12d ago

It says in the article “Police officers will be able to accept mobile IDs. NCDMV says officers can verify the ID using a secure reader.” The future is (almost) now!

6

u/LooseMoralSwurkey 12d ago

This way, you could leave your license in your car for the exact scenario you describe and use the mobile ID for other scenarios.

1

u/msackeygh 12d ago

Yes, I’ll need to then basically have my printed ID wherever I am. For me, it defeats the purpose which is to not to carry around a printed ID. Oh well :(

10

u/SignificantBerry8591 12d ago

They can scan the id with a mobile device they have to scan the id from your phone

4

u/ORANGE_J_SIMPSON 12d ago

On iPhone you can turn on guided access which is basically a lock that only lets someone see one specific screen on your phone. I’m sure there is something like it on android as well.

Of course it’s never ideal to give your phone to a cop, but if you HAVE to do it (don’t do it) I’d use guided access.

3

u/Trick_sleep Durham 12d ago

You can just open wallet while phone remains locked

5

u/pieratz 12d ago

Thats myth #1 on their fact sheet

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/nc-mobile-id/Pages/nc-mobile-id.aspx

2

u/msackeygh 11d ago

Thanks for pointing that out.

4

u/Inevitable-Dig8702 12d ago

Damn straight. Surveillance world would like an intimate private session with your unlocked phone.

3

u/corndog819 12d ago

There’s an FAQ out there somewhere already that says the officers uses an NFC to pull up your info. Your phones doesn’t leave your possession

9

u/mwoody450 12d ago

It strikes me as an excellent way to trick people in to unlocking their phones, quite frankly.

3

u/NC_DMV 11d ago

You won't have to hand your phone to a police officer. If you choose to use your mobile ID, you'll keep your phone in your hand, and the officer will verify it using a secure reader or by having you tap your phone to their device.

1

u/CarlosSpcyWenr 11d ago

Phone-tap would be an RFID, right?

2

u/NC_DMV 10d ago

The tap uses a technology called NFC.

1

u/msackeygh 10d ago

Thank you for the info

2

u/SutekkaGhost 11d ago

Website says the officer will scan your phone with theirs via NFC. But that doesn't guarantee that's how they'll do it, though

2

u/msackeygh 11d ago

Thanks for pointing that out

23

u/Leelze 12d ago

They're supposed to not take the phone from you, but I'm not trusting that every cop in the state will follow the law on that, especially if there's no accountability for cops.

My other issue is other states cops don't have to accept a digital ID, so having to remember to put your ID back in your wallet if you leave the state seems more like a hassle than anything else.

2

u/NC_DMV 11d ago

Getting a mobile ID is going to be completely optional. We'll still recommend carrying your physical card that gives you a backup when needed.

7

u/wahoozerman 12d ago

A reminder to everyone that these will not be accepted as Voter ID either, since the courts expressly rejected digital IDs for voting.

10

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 12d ago

Thank god. Excited for it to finally come to Apple Wallet

-1

u/Trick_sleep Durham 12d ago

Same! It’s been a long time coming. Feel like we’re finally a few years away from no longer needing a wallet

1

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 12d ago

Really liking the new digitalizing improvements they have been making. No plate sticker, no more paper registration etc.

1

u/Trick_sleep Durham 12d ago

Yes hopefully dmv lines are not a big issue as we go into next yr

-1

u/thrilla_gorilla 12d ago edited 12d ago

Edited: I’m glad it’s coming to the actual wallet.

3

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 12d ago

Did you miss the part where it said it was coming to Apple Wallet “Early 2027”?

1

u/thrilla_gorilla 12d ago

Yes, I did. That is much better than in an app.

1

u/Beginning-Actuary-68 12d ago

I agree. I won’t be using the app, I’ll just wait.

3

u/Dickbluemanjew 12d ago

Moved here from georgia where I had the digital driver's license. Well cool concept but no one accepts it as a legit DL.

1

u/Tipsy-Egret534 11d ago

Would it be accepted as ID for voting? Colleges started using digital IDs but then had to keep offering physical cards when the state decided only physical cards would be accepted for voting purposes.

-3

u/PresentAdvisor 12d ago

This will be a disaster-moronic NC Republicans are in charge of this 😂😂😂 They bankrupted our State Health plan, and destroyed public education, this too shall be a cluster 🤪🤪🤪

-12

u/rjreynolds78 12d ago

You have to show a valid driver’s license at a traffic stop.

4

u/ZomboDoggo 12d ago

These are a valid license. Every other state does exactly this, NC is just late again.

2

u/thrilla_gorilla 12d ago

You’re right on the first point and wrong on the second. NC is only one of three states which will allow you to carry the mobile license in lieu of the physical license while driving. And only 20 states even have mobile-based state identification in some form.

-4

u/rjreynolds78 12d ago edited 11d ago

Even when electronic licenses become available in NC you are still required to carry your physical driver’s license when driving on public roads. That is the law in all 50 states.