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Comment by dave_aiello | Hacker News Reader

One use case for this is places like Pennsylvania where you typically need to produce a government-issued ID to purchase alcohol.

In 100%-proof-of-ID stores, cashiers often don't look at the photo on the ID, they scan the bar code on the back of the Driver's License that's presented.

Why not use the Digital ID in an Apple Wallet in those situations?

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THIS is what strikes me as the use case for this, and 100% absolutely not using it with any interaction with the law. Preferably the only way I ever go through any law interaction with my phone on me is if it's turned off, or at the very very least have used the emergency function to disable Touch ID/Face ID which also discards the transient keys for decrypting storage (and no I don't use iCloud Backup or iCloud Photos). Smartphones and computers at this point fare essentially exocortexes, but the law does not protect them the same way it protects the contents of our minds.

However, there are lots and lots and lots of private interactions where cryptographic assertable proof of identity would be enormously valuable and a big win for privacy, fraud reduction etc, but the other party certainly has zero right or capability to demand your device, go through it and use force against you based on what they find there. Not just in retail but particularly online the state of identity verification in the US is just fucking abysmal even now. Common workarounds include stuff like literally taking a photo of your government ID and then emailing it, which of course is terrible in every respect.

From the description and example screen it appears this offers reasonably fine-grained information options. So if there was a secure generally available API ala Apple Pay wherein sites could simply request the minimum needed like age verification and address verification (obviously I'm supplying the address anyway to have things shipped, but this would help assert that yes that was my address) that could be quite valuable if still imperfect.

I'm surprised so many of the comments jumped right to presenting ID to the government. This sort of thing was exactly what I had in mind too. My watch can already:

- stream music when I go for a run in the park

- give emergency info to first responders if something happens to me while I'm out

- pay for the bus or train home if I need it for some reason with Omny + Apple Pay

- pay for things I stop to buy with Apple Pay

Giving govt-issued proof of age so I can buy a beer on occasion after a workout without taking my drivers' license with me is a welcome addition to all the rest of that power.

If I'm crossing a border, I've already got alternative hard-copy ID on me.

In the words of Neil Postman "What problem is this technology trying to solve??"

I just don't get it. How much easier do you need it to be than to hand someone an ID card?

The trade offs being made here for the ever slightest convenience make absolute no sense to me.

It is this weird technological addiction to novelty even when there is basically no value or even difference. The only gain is that it is new and novel.

It's not just convenience -- it's also about privacy. For example, I don't like disclosing my home address just to prove I'm old enough to buy alcohol.

With this, I won't have to since it allows for asserting proof of age without disclosing additional information.

Makes sense. COVID vaccination credentials are a great example. The work done with SMART health credentials and vertical solutions like NY Excelsior Pass and Israel’s Greenpass pave the way.

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