Mobile drivers’ licenses from Thales coming to Florida in 2021

Thales has been selected by Florida to provide mobile drivers’ licenses with robust security and full compliance with national and international standards.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has contracted Thales to provide verification services for the mDLs, along with a solution for residents. Florida residents will be able to apply for the new digital credential, which meet the standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, as well as international standards from ISO, starting next year. Florida mDLs can be stored on a variety of devices, including smartphones and tablets.

The mDLs will have the same validity as traditional driver’s licenses for identity verification, proof of age and proof of driving eligibility. This means photo conformance to standards for face biometrics, like all Real ID-compliant licenses.

They can also be used as a tool for strong identity authentication, on or offline, according to the announcement. Users verify their identity by launching the mobile identification application, selecting the type of verification they want to perform, and holding up the mobile device, rather than handing it over, for a contactless experience.

“We have made a sustained commitment to the modernization of nearly every aspect of what our department does and how customers access our services, and Thales will be a great partner as Florida now steps into the future of mobile identification,” states Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes.

The digital identity credentials are harder to counterfeit than their physical counterparts, Thales says, and can share limited information to protect user privacy.

“As ID fraud becomes more frequent and sophisticated, we made it a priority to reinforce ID verification by adding extra software security technologies,” says Thales VP of NORAM Identity and Biometric Solutions Tony Lo Brutto. “In the future, enterprises such as airports, hotels, car rental companies etc, in Florida will be able to rely on Thales to identify customers, while guaranteeing their privacy.”

Apps have been launched for mobile driver’s licenses in other states including Colorado and Oklahoma, providing facial recognition among their features, but have not yet been granted the same status as physical drivers’ licenses.

Biometric Update Editor Chris Burt will moderate a panel discussion on digital IDs like mobile drivers’ licenses and digital travel credentials, presented by the International Biometrics + Identity Association (IBIA) and titled ‘The State of Mobile Identity Credentials’ at 2:30pm ET on October 20, 2020.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  credentials  |  digital identity  |  driver's license  |  facial recognition  |  identity document  |  identity verification  |  mDL (mobile driver's license)  |  Thales  |  Thales Digital Identity and Security  |  webinar