* The setup…
Something Big Is Coming to Illinois, Giannoulias to Make Special Announcement
*Also available to view via a livestream and as a broadcast quality downloadable video.
Who:
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias
What:
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will make a special announcement, on Tuesday November 18th at 10:00 a.m., which marks a milestone moment for Illinois residents and a bold step forward for the state.
* The rollout…
* More from Secretary Giannoulias’ remarks…
Giannoulias: For anyone who’s ever left the house without their wallet, fumbled for their ID at airport security, or wished government services were just a little more modern, today changes everything. Starting tomorrow, for the first time ever, Illinoisans will be able to add their driver’s license or state ID directly to their Apple Wallet. And this is just the beginning — the first step in bringing mobile IDs to the state of Illinois.
That means that your ID now lives securely in the same place that you already use to pay for groceries, present a boarding pass for a flight, or enter a concert — all protected by the same cutting-edge privacy and encryption technology that you trust every day on the devices that you already love. This is government innovation at its best: modern, secure, and designed for you.
When we took office, I made a promise to modernize this agency and make it work better for the people of Illinois. And since day one, I’m proud to say that we’ve been delivering. From slashing wait times at DMVs to expanding online services, we have been laser-focused on eliminating the time tax that Illinoisans have to pay to access simple government services. Our goal has been simple: bring government into the 21st century and meet people where they are today. Today, we take another major leap forward. Illinois driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet is not just a new product; it’s a new way to think about identity, security, and convenience in your everyday life. Illinoisans expect their government to innovate, but also to protect their privacy. The work on this project was built on two foundations: convenience and security.
Illinois driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet take advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch to help protect against tampering and theft. Data is encrypted, and biometric authentication using Face ID or Touch ID ensures that only the owner of the ID and Wallet can present it. This isn’t just cool technology; it’s trusted, secure, private technology. Only the information needed for a transaction is presented, and you have the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested with Face ID or Touch ID before it is shared.
If a bar or concert venue only needs to confirm you’re over 21, that’s all they see — not your address, not your license number, not even your birth date — just the fact that you’re over 21. That is a game changer for privacy in the digital age. So how does it work? It’s simple. Starting tomorrow, November 19, to get started, open Apple Wallet, tap the plus button, select driver’s license or state ID, and follow the quick steps. Scan your card, take a selfie, and you’re done. From there, your Illinois driver’s license or state ID will be added securely on your device.
If you need help, you can go to ilsos.gov/mobile for step-by-step instructions and our how-to video. And here’s something else: unlike a physical ID, your mobile ID updates in real time. Apple and our office don’t track when or where you use it. Your privacy is protected by design. You also never need to show or hand over your device to present your ID — your ID and device always stay with you. And most significantly, with a busy holiday travel season right around the corner, starting tomorrow you’ll be able to use your mobile ID at O’Hare, Midway, and Lambert airports and at over 250 airports nationwide.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* NBC Chicago…
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, the change will roll out to Apple users first, starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday. It will roll out to Samsung and Google phones next year, NBC Chicago’s Kye Martin confirmed.
Earlier this year, a new law went into effect allowing the state of Illinois to issue digital driver’s licenses and identification cards for the first time. […]
Some groups, including the ACLU, previously expressed concerns about the use of mobile identification documents, citing fears that law enforcement could search a person’s phone without proper consent. The measure in Illinois explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from searching through a phone’s contents after viewing the mobile identification card, according to the legislation. […]
According to Giannoulias, the mobile driver’s licenses would not replace their physical counterparts, but instead “act as a companion.”
[Isabel Miller contributed to this post.]
- Loyal Virus - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 10:48 am:
What could possibly go wrong
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 10:55 am:
Now all we have to worry about is leaving our house without our smart phone.
- This Just In - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 10:56 am:
Chances of this being a boondoggle initially = likely.
Potentially harmless unless the photo of the Secretary of State shirtless sneaks into the mix.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 10:57 am:
–
The measure in Illinois explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from searching through a phone’s contents after viewing the mobile identification card
–
Well, law enforcement has been so responsible with the FLOCK cameras.
“Hey, the police didn’t search anything. A third party the police are authorized to be agents for while working as police, did the searching.”
Without penalties that are actually enforced, this is a meaningless protection.
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 10:58 am:
===You also never need to show or hand over your device to present your ID===
===The measure in Illinois explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from searching through a phone’s contents after viewing the mobile identification card===
So you don’t need to hand over the device, but we had to pass a law saying cops can’t look through the phone when handed the device. Which is it?
To protect privacy, the phone should lock when the license is displayed so that nothing else can be accessed, and a PIN needs to be required to unlock so that the cop cannot forcibly use someone’s face or fingerprint.
- illinifan - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:00 am:
Already uploaded my passport to the apple digital ID it was easy to do. Great to see IL added to the list of states that do this for travel. You can’t access without the security authentication method that you established.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:00 am:
===To protect privacy, the phone should lock when the license is displayed so that nothing else can be accessed,===
That’s how Apple Wallet works.
- Aaron B - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:04 am:
Irritated that they don’t roll out the Android version at the same time as the Apple version. My phone cost as much as a new iPhone. iOS may be leading the mobile OS game but at 40%+ market share, Android isn’t exactly rare.
- Scoot - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:05 am:
I’ve excited for this option! SOS continues to modernize which is great. Thanks to Alexi and his staff.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:07 am:
==The measure in Illinois explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from searching through a phone’s contents after viewing the mobile identification card==
To quote the late great John Candy…
“If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?”
I am going to pass. It might be just fine, but I am of the mind and age that thinks some original docs are a good idea and that digital isnt always secure as it should be.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:13 am:
“According to Giannoulias, the mobile driver’s licenses would not replace their physical counterparts, but instead “act as a companion.””
Kind of a big detail that clarifies the impact of this. If a police officer isn’t going to accept it if you get pulled over or if you can’t use it to buy alcohol, what can this virtual ID be used for?
With that being said, it’s deceptive to say “fumbled for their ID at airport security” if this won’t be accepted at airports (which is under federal direction).
- Techie - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:16 am:
Disappointed Giannoulias didn’t fully commit to the bit and wear the black turtleneck too
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:20 am:
This is not for me.
I don’t want digital ID.
I don’t want digital money.
I am tired of getting a letter every month from some company that their third party vendor had a data breach which may have compromised my personal info.
If there is a cranky old Luddite political movement out there pushing against unnecessary tech changes like this, sign me up.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:23 am:
So android users are out of luck.
- Think again - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:26 am:
Good move, let’s see if the ISP can do the same for the FOID
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:26 am:
“Disappointed Giannoulias didn’t fully commit to the bit and wear the black turtleneck too”
There’s still time.
- Blue Dog - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:27 am:
At my age I seem to misplaced my wallet every other day.
- Sox Fan - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:34 am:
As someone who lost a drivers license on a vacation once, I’m grateful that I have a backup option if it ever happens again. I will still likely continue to use my physical DL for most things.
- Occasionally Moderated - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:44 am:
Alexi got his splash in the press in the name of progress. Thats all that matters to him.
Don’t know if anyone has ever noticed but a police officer doesn’t just look at you driver’s license. They need the info on it. Also a person can’t always tell authorities who they are because they are incapacitated. Does this help or hurt?
I can’t think of anything more gross than touching someone elses phone.
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:45 am:
===That’s how Apple Wallet works.===
Is that true for Google and Samsung Wallets as well? If so, is the prohibition on cops searching the device redundant? Not that redundancy is bad, since technology can change rapidly.
Setting the device to only unlock with a PIN is more on the end user in the trade-off between convenience and security, so I get why the State would not want to legislate that.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:48 am:
===I don’t want digital money. ===
Do you use a credit card and make your payments online?
- Tom - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 11:59 am:
Thanks, Alexi. It’s nice that he and his office are trying to make life easier. If it’s not for you, don’t use it. For the rest of us, good job!
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
I am beyond excited on behalf of Chicago’s bar and music venue door hosts as they now get to explain “No, we only accept the Apple wallet secure State of Illinois ID, not a screen shot of ‘your’ ID in your photo app.”
And yes, that has been an actual periodic issue for the past year ever since the law passed and the news of digital IDs must’ve been shared on some college aged reddit.
- Elmer Keith - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 12:05 pm:
“The measure in Illinois explicitly prohibit law enforcement officers from searching through a phone’s contents after viewing the mobile identification card, according to the legislation.” Get serious, like any cop is not going to charge you with “assaulting an officer” if you try to take your phone back when he keeps it. Or seizes it “as evidence related to a crime.”
How about decriminalizing not having your FOID when hunting? Police see the FOID or CCl on the LEADS system any time they stop you.