Digital Passports Promise Faster Airport Security — But Are They Safe?

Digital passports from Apple and Google are now available at over 250 TSA checkpoints, allowing travelers to store their passports on their smartphones for faster airport security. While currently limited to domestic flights, these encrypted IDs could transform online identity verification across many industries in the coming years.

Peter Horadan, CEO of identity verification company Vouched, highlights a key advantage of digital IDs: they represent the first truly unforgeable form of identification.

"For the very first time, we have a very convenient way online to prove a person is exactly who they say they are. This is going to revolutionize a lot of areas of society."

Digital IDs offer several benefits beyond convenience:

• Fraud Prevention: Unlike physical IDs that can be forged, digital passports are cryptographically signed by governments and protected by biometric authentication, making them impossible to tamper with or counterfeit.
• Enhanced Security: Horadan predicts that within 10 years, high-value transactions like wire transfers or password changes will commonly require digital ID verification—simply placing your thumb on your phone to authenticate.
• Privacy Control: Users can choose what information to share, and zero-knowledge proof technology can confirm facts like age requirements without revealing actual personal data.

However, privacy advocates have raised concerns about potential overreach, including increased identity checks across the internet and possible government tracking capabilities. Experts emphasize the importance of building privacy protections into digital ID systems before widespread adoption.

Originally published on Built In. For full article, visit the source.