Apple moves towards developing a 'digital driver's license'

Many risks have been pointed out from the viewpoint of security in digitizing identification cards. However, it was reported that Apple will advance the digitization of driver's licenses and will be able to add driver's licenses to Apple's app 'Wallet' in some states of the United States in the latter half of 2021. .. Apple has also hired a former executive who has been involved in the development of electric vehicles at BMW for many years, and is believed to be developing self-driving cars as well.

Apple and several states are making digital driver's licenses a reality --Vox
https://www.vox.com/recode/22526184/digital-drivers-license-apple-ibm-idemia-id-tsa-phones

Apple Hires Former BMW Executive for Its Rebooted Car Project --Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-10/apple-hires-former-bmw-executive-for-its-rebooted-car-project

Apple announced on June 8, 2021 that it will extend the wallet functionality of the Apple Watch. The wallet is an application for using credit cards etc. via Apple Pay , but in the future it will be possible to unlock the car using the wallet. Similarly, it is planned that keys for homes and offices can be added to the wallet in the future, and from the latter half of 2021, users will be required to obtain a driver's license or state-issued ID card, starting with the corresponding state in the United States. You will be able to add it to your wallet, 'Apple said.

watchOS 8, Apple Watch Offers New Access, Connections, and New Features for Mindfulness-Apple (Japan)
https://www.apple.com/jp/newsroom/2021/06/watchos-8-brings-new-access-connectivity-and-mindfulness-features-to-apple-watch/

Apple isn't the only attempt to digitize driver's licenses, and the New York Times says IBM will work with New York to expand its vaccine passport system to develop digital driver's licenses. That thing.

With the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), digitization has progressed in various fields. Digitization of IDs is one of the hot topics, and the development of ' vaccination passports', which are carried out by digital recording, is attracting attention. Unlike a vaccination passport that contains very personal 'health information', a digital driver's license only digitizes the information of an existing driver's license, but it still poses a danger to people from a security standpoint. It has been pointed out that it may be exposed to.

With Apple's introduction of a digital driver's license, digital wallets will become more familiar to people and may make physical wallets a 'past thing.' On the other hand, the widespread use of credit card-linked wallets will allow Apple to become more involved in people's consumer activities. Regarding the development of such digital IDs, 'Even if it was said at the time of introduction that'only this can be done', it is very likely that it will be expanded for another purpose later,' said Albert, a lawyer.・ Mr. Fox Khan points out.

However, attempts to digitize IDs are also supported by the US government, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has already allowed the iPhone to be used as an ID card at some airports. From these cases, tech media record pointed out that digital IDs are already an unavoidable future, despite concerns about the risk of privacy breaches.

In addition, overseas news media Bloomberg reportedly hired Ulrich Kranz, the former CEO of Apple's self-driving car startup Canoo, in April 2021. In an interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook shares his thoughts on self-driving cars.

Apple Hires Former BMW Executive for Its Rebooted Car Project --Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-10/apple-hires-former-bmw-executive-for-its-rebooted-car-project

Apple has been developing self-driving cars for a long time, and by the end of 2020, 'Apple is planning to develop self-driving cars in cooperation with partner companies' 'It is expected to start production by 2024' It was reported . Apple CEO Tim Cook also talked about self-driving cars in an interview in April 2021.

CEO Tim Cook talks about Apple's self-driving car and AR glass development in an interview --GIGAZINE

In an interview, CEO Cook avoids direct mention of 'developing self-driving cars,' but hiring Kranz is believed to be evidence of progress in development. .. Mr. Kranz worked for BMW for about 30 years, and after serving as a senior officer in the electric vehicle division, became CTO and CEO of Canoo and resigned in April 2021. It is believed that Apple hired them within the next few weeks.