Digital driving licenses are set to be introduced in the UK, marking a significant step towards leveraging technology to revolutionize public services.
These licenses, accessible through a new government smartphone app, could potentially replace physical licenses in various scenarios.
While physical licenses will continue to be issued, the government believes that the voluntary digital option will propel the country into the 2020s. A government spokesperson emphasized the government’s commitment to using technology to enhance people’s lives and transform public services.
The digital licenses could be utilized at supermarket self-checkouts, allowing customers to verify their age independently without the need for staff assistance. Moreover, the virtual licenses may include a feature that enables users to conceal their address in certain settings, such as bars or shops.
According to government data, there were over 50 million driving license holders in the UK in 2023. The digital licenses are likely to be launched as part of a “wallet” within the new government app, Gov.uk. This wallet is expected to be secured similarly to many banking apps, ensuring that only the genuine owner of a license can access it.
The wallet will incorporate features commonly found on smartphones, including biometrics and multifactor authentication, such as security codes. The government is also considering integrating other services into the app, such as tax payments and benefits claims.
While other forms of identification, like national insurance numbers, may be added, it is unlikely that physical identification will be entirely replaced. The new technology appears to fall short of the concept of a broad digital ID card, which was previously advocated by Sir Tony Blair and Lord William Hague.
At the time, the head of the privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch expressed concern, stating that such a move would constitute one of the most significant assaults on privacy ever witnessed in the United Kingdom.
In 2016, the then-boss of the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) revealed that digital licenses were in the works.
Virtual licenses are already being utilized in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and certain US states.
Furthermore, every member state of the European Union is mandated to introduce at least one form of digital ID by 2026.
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