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posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday October 29 2019, @05:44AM   Printer-friendly
from the what-can-be-abused,-will dept.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that two Australian States now allow citizens to choose to have a licence issued in digital format and have it displayed on their smartphones.

New South Wales citizens are now finally able to display their driver's licence on their phones and use it as a form of ID at licenced premises.

But if you have a cracked screen, it may not get accepted because a clear screen is required for it to be used as valid ID; your phone must also be fully charged so that you can show your licence.

[...] The Service NSW app, which enables people to display their ID on iPhone and Android smartphones, was updated about 12pm on Monday for all NSW citizens to add their driver's licence.

Until now, only about 20,000 citizens in trial areas that included Sydney's eastern suburbs, Albury, and Dubbo were able to make use of a digital driver's licence.

[...] "Always carry your plastic card if you know you're going to need your driver licence, or if you plan to travel interstate. Ensure your phone screen is not cracked and your phone is charged," Service NSW warns. "It ... may take some time before all organisations will be ready to accept" the digital app.
While the licence is expected to be accepted at most venues, the state government is reminding people to still carry their plastic card "to avoid inconvenience", as some venues in NSW or other states and countries may not accept it as a valid form of ID.

It's also reminding people to not use their phones while driving or riding when asked for ID and that you do not have to hand over your unlocked phone in order for it to be verified by people such as security guards or police officers.

"You don't have to hand over your phone. You may be asked to refresh your licence, by pulling down and releasing," the Service NSW app says.

Anyone want to put more information on their phone?


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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 29 2019, @06:42AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 29 2019, @06:42AM (#913161)

    It is worse than you think. In my state, they also allow electronic proof of insurance. A buddy of mine had that and the officer wanted to take his unlocked phone back to his car to run the insurance. My buddy, thinking fast, set the lock screen image to a screen shot of the app. Now imagine if he had the State ID App on his phone too. Now he wouldn't be able to lock it, so the police can switch between insurance and ID. You are handing the police your unlocked phone for a minimum of five minutes where you can't keep track of what they are doing with it. Make you wonder how much evidence, among other things, they will "accidentally" see when switching through apps on your phone.

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  • (Score: 4, Informative) by pkrasimirov on Tuesday October 29 2019, @09:35AM (1 child)

    by pkrasimirov (3358) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 29 2019, @09:35AM (#913205)

    Showing the ID on the phone =/= handing over the phone. At least in my country there is a clear written difference in the law. It says "show your id", not "give your id". Even more, it clearly says "never give or lend your id document to anyone for any reason and always carry it with you".

    Of course this is not respected and the policemen grab the id the moment they see it. It is part of a power game. For example on traffic stop they hold the id and/or driving license as a hostage until they are satisfied and allow the car to go.

    But maybe in Australia this can be resisted? Like, "no, officer, I do not consent to give you my id/phone, you can look at it it as long as you want but it does not leave my hands". Then again the phone might run out of juice and the holder will be at wrong.

    • (Score: 2) by pipedwho on Tuesday October 29 2019, @09:57AM

      by pipedwho (2032) on Tuesday October 29 2019, @09:57AM (#913208)

      There is a procedure for using the App to display your ID. The officer is allowed to use their phone/whatever to scan the picture on the App which includes a QR code that changes every few seconds. The phone should never leave your hands.

      It also mentions not to play with your phone until you're asked for the ID by the officer.

      But, Australian police are similar to cops everywhere in overstepping their proscribed boundaries, so people need to be aware.