8 things you didn’t know about mobile IDs

“It takes three seconds to verify a mobile ID,” said Nicholas Larter, Senior Solutions Manager at Veridos. To put that in perspective, that’s quicker than reaching into your wallet to remove a card.

Imagine not having to carry a national ID, a driving licence or student ID, a health or insurance card– indeed, any form of identification that provides some basic information about a person, including their name, age, perhaps gender, and occasionally address. Carrying physical documents is part of everyday life, but it can be cumbersome, and all that plastic adds up. A misplaced purse or wallet can necessitate trips to various offices to generate new documentation, and the user may have their access to certain services curtailed until the documents are replaced. Something as basic as a lost library card can be a game-changer for a student in the midst of examinations.

A mobile ID takes care of that by consolidating all one’s physical IDs into one digital place on a phone or similar device. The required information – which answers a particular question, or range of questions – is stored digitally and is cryptographically secured, and can be verified when required, almost instantly.

A well-designed mobile ID protects the user’s privacy, is mindful of security across the ecosystem, and streamlines access to services, while functioning independently of internet connectivity. The advantages are obvious, and the proliferation of use cases for mobile IDs adds proof. “Valuable use cases drive adoption,” pointed out Larter. “A growing ecosystem that runs on secure and seamless digital verification makes good sense for everyone, including issuers, verifiers, and users.” While governments see the benefits in more efficient law enforcement and better delivery of public services, the private sector sees applications across health, hospitality, banking, travel, and the like. The list grows every day. 

However, just in case there are still doubts about what a mobile ID is, what it isn’t, and the range of use cases it expedites in both public and private sectors, we’re here to help users get up to speed with something that can make all our lives simpler.

1. Did you know that a mobile ID is only ever verified electronically?

Occasionally, you may see a verification process that includes a document that mimics the visual characteristics of a physical ID, like a hologram for instance. This would require some sort of visual verification by a human agent. This is not a mobile ID, though, and it gives you none of the security and flexibility true mobile IDs offer. And it won’t open up the world of use cases that true mobile IDs – which function exclusively through electronic verification – grant access to. 

2. Did you know that a true mobile ID is the digital twin of a physical document, and not its replacement?

A well-designed mobile ID works hand-in-hand with its physical twin, each one applied to the use case that best suits it. Both forms have equal value at this point in time. Citizens retain the right to choose which one suits them best in a particular situation.

3. Did you know mobile IDs foster inclusion?

Mobile IDs are designed to be user-friendly. They take local preferences into account and bring the aged and other non-digital-native populations to the digital sphere. When established standards are followed, mobile IDs are reliable and resilient, and work without internet connectivity. By being mindful of these factors, they connect underserved populations to digital services, including government benefits that require identity verification. A person living in a remote area would not have to travel 100 kilometres to the nearest governmental office; with a mobile ID on their device, they are there already. 

4. Did you know mobile IDs have many more use cases beyond access to public services?

The private sector’s list of use cases for mobile IDs is growing. A mobile student ID proves that a user is who they say they are, for example, and prevents academic fraud by eliminating all those who may otherwise claim their credentials. A digital health card proves your insurance status in a situation where you may require help but aren’t carrying your wallet – for instance, a hiker rescued from a storm. A mobile ID also reassures a pharmacist the person they are giving the restricted medicine to is old enough to claim it. 

5. Did you know mobile IDs protect privacy by design?

Data minimisation is built into a well-designed mobile ID. Along with the principle of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP), this serves to safeguard the underlying information that constitutes the entirety of a user’s identity. Only that information is offered that the verifier asks for, at the user’s discretion; the user’s consent is always required. Consider going to a cinema to see a movie that requires a user to be 18 or older. A driving licence has information the user may not want to share, including a name and address. But a mobile ID would only offer an answer to the question, “Are you old enough to see this movie”? Once this is verified, they’re free to enter.

6. Did you know mobile IDs only work over NFC or BLE?

A QR code is generated on the user’s phone when required. Secure transmission only begins once that QR code is scanned. Only the two devices, engaged via near-field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), can take part in the identity transaction.

7. Did you know that a standards-compliant mobile ID is multi-document-capable?

Every document an issuer makes available digitally can be stored on one app on a user’s device. These include a driving licence, national ID card, vehicle registration, and proof of health coverage; indeed, even a fishing licence, provided it is electronically available. 

8. Did you know that a mobile ID is always up to date?

While a physical document requires updating to reflect life changes – including age, marital status, change of address, and the like – its digital twin reflects that change instantly. Once a physical document is brought up to date and re-issued, the corresponding mobile ID will reflect that new reality.