Driving licences and veteran cards to be first digital IDs in Government app
Share:
Digital driving licences stored in a government smartphone “wallet” that can be used to prove a person’s age are to be made available this year. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said “nothing is off the table” in terms of what digital versions of Government-issued documents could be stored in the new Gov.uk app.
The app for Government services will be launched by June and will include a digital wallet to store documents, beginning with a veteran card and then a pilot of driving licences by the end of the year. “You will be able to prove and verify your age digitally using the digital driving licence. And this is going to be absolutely liberating,” Mr Kyle said at a launch event at the Government Digital Service in Whitechapel.
“In person, you can generate a code where you can hold up and prove you are who you say you are, and you are the age you say you are without having to reveal your name or your address,” he added. And online, he demonstrated how the digital ID could be used to buy age-restricted items such as fireworks online.
The app also aims to join up services so people can pay their car tax and receive their child benefit in the same place. You will be able to prove and verify your age digitally using the digital driving licence. And this is going to be absolutely liberating.
