The TSA entrusts the production and issuance of REAL IDs, for example in the form of digital IDs and driving licenses, to 9 specific states in the US, and not just any state, which can be accepted at TSA’s participating airports. Whilst the TSA is expanding mobile practices across more airports, including for its PreCheck scheme, it is carefully controlling that genuinely produced digital IDs are added to recognisable wallets. In tandem, with the practical due diligence for ensuring REAL ID, and implementing biometric matching technology against the data imputed by passengers ahead of travel, the requirements for REAL ID are expected to be mapped out within the legislation by 2025.
The TSA announced that mDLs issued by New York can be read by the agency’s Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) readers. New York – home to some of the largest and busiest airports like JFK International Airport – was the ninth state to issue TSA-approved mDLs.
There is also an effort by the federal government through the TSA to assess the landscape of mobile apps and advanced passenger information systems used by the airlines. For example, the myColorado mobile app, issued in Colorado, creates an account for citizen’s contactless Digital ID to have access to many services; in addition to being stored within a recognised, government approved private wallet, such as Apple. A multitude of private and public digital wallets exist now which has prioritised the need to merge public credentials in private sector wallets and vice versa for use within the travel industry.
Digital IDs are accepted more as a means of identity verification in the TSA PreCheck® lanes, however, the agency only started testing digital ID acceptance at selected touchpoints in 2022. The e-ID issuing states now compatible with TSA CAT-2 readers are: Utah (March 2023), Iowa (Oct 2023), California (Nov 2023), Louisiana, Arizona, Maryland, Georgia (March 2022).
Forbes reported comments from Robert Duffy, TSA’s Federal Security Director for LaGuardia Airport on the state-of-the-art digital ID being accepted on the list of IDs at touchpoints. He said: “Travelers who want to take advantage of this new capability will find that their New York mobile ID is a convenient option when going through the security process.”
The New York Mobile ID app can be downloaded for residents from the App Store or Google Play to their smartphone.
