Apple’s innovative Digital ID feature is the newest step taken by the company to make daily essentials digital, and it transforms users’ iPhone or Apple Watch into a necessity. This is the ultimate accessory for a hassle-free journey and identification. Apple is granting users the capability to establish a verified ID using data from their U.S passport, which means that physical documents will not be necessary anymore, at least for internal flights.
The feature will be introduced in a trial phase at 250 airports in the U.S, where travelers will be able to authenticate their identity at TSA checkpoints with just a tap or glance. It is smooth, secure, and absolutely Apple-like, which merges comfort with the guarantee of privacy.
On one hand, this high-tech innovation is a major turning point for travel and digital identity. It has made security checks simpler and at the same time provides an additional layer of security through the combination of Face ID and encryption. For business travelers, it has become a time-saver and a stress reliever.
On the other hand, the digitalization of identity might demand a trade-off in terms of privacy. Apple claims that it is not aware of when and where users show their IDs, yet there are still fears regarding data misuse, hacking, and overreliance on Big Tech for something as personal as identity. Also, since the integration of digital IDs could very well speed up the provision of services and the verification processes, it will also make it harder for people who do not own Apple devices to access these services.
Apple’s Digital ID may still not fully take the place of the physical passport, but it certainly is an indication of the future where identity, security, and technology will coexist without roughness. As the digital space is getting more of our lives, the real test will be whether privacy and trust can still keep the same pace with innovation or not.
