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Google is testing a Wallet feature on Android that turns your US passport into a digital ID that could help you speed through the airport.
The upcoming feature works by scanning the security chip at the back of the passport and capturing a video of your face to verify your identity. After a few minutes, you’ll have a digital ID you can use at TSA airport checkpoints across some states, including San Francisco International (SFO) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK).
You’ll still need to carry physical ID as the Wallet feature is still young, Google says. In the future, however, Google hopes the digital ID will be useful for everything from recovering an account to renting cars.
The company is also expanding access to state-issued IDs in Wallet to Iowa, New Mexico, and Ohio. In Colorado, businesses will soon have the option of accepting digital IDs.
It should also be easier to use Google Wallet for travel. The app will automatically import tickets from booking confirmations so you don’t have to add them yourself. You’ll also get notifications for changes and promos, such as a new flight gate or a special at a coffee shop. You’ll “soon” get live train statuses from tickets and see your upcoming trips.
In addition to the native app, you can also see all your passes through the Wallet website.
Google, like Apple, maintains that digital IDs are more secure and private than physical cards. Officials and businesses can only request the info relevant to the transaction rather than seeing everything. The data is end-to-end encrypted, so Google and those uninvolved in an exchange can’t see the data.
Concerns still remain. If there are any lapses in security, intruders could theoretically steal digital IDs for identity theft. There are also worries governments might abuse them to surveil people and potentially violate civil rights. And while they’re not required, they could put low-income people at a disadvantage by making it less convenient to travel or complete registrations.
