by Frank Bergman, Slay News:
New York has just rolled out its official digital ID, allowing all residents in the state to convert their traditional driver’s licenses or non-driver documents into the new app-based formats.
As of this week, New Yorkers can now download the New Longyear Mobile ID app from both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
This digital version allows users to verify their identity online and at airports and other physical locations requiring ID.
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To set up their digital identity, users must initially scan both sides of their existing physical ID card using their smartphone.
The introduction of the state’s new digital ID comes shortly after New York just passed its new online age-verification laws.
Lawmakers in New York have passed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the Child Data Protection Act.
Assembly Bill A8148A and Senate Bill S7694A (that became the SAFE Act) were introduced as aiming to prevent social platforms from showing minors “addictive” (i.e., algorithmically manipulated) feeds, among a host of other provisions.
Parental consent is now required for children to have access to the latter versions of the feeds.
Conveniently, this means that the controversial age verification for adults must be introduced into the mix.
The launch of New York’s new digital ID was unveiled at a media event at LaGuardia Airport.
Top officials were present for the event, including Robert Duffy, the federal security director for the Transportation Security Administration.
During the briefing, the introduction of digital IDs was pitched as a significant step toward modernizing identity security and airport screening processes.
Officials insisted that the digital IDs are optional.
They argued that they offer greater convenience without being mandatory, for now.
However, as we’ve previously seen with such schemes, while they may not be “mandatory,” they will be required for those who wish to access basic everyday services.
Currently, there is no mandatory requirement for businesses or law enforcement to accept mobile IDs.
For the time being at least, acceptance is entirely voluntary.
