Hawai'i-Issued Real IDs Can Be Added to Apple Wallet Beginning August 28

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Hawai‘i’s move to let residents add state-issued Real IDs to Apple Wallet sparks broader reactions about the slow, uneven rollout of mobile driver’s licenses across U.S. states and platforms. Commenters weigh the convenience of carrying IDs and payment cards on phones against practical problems (spotty TSA and bar acceptance, clunky state apps) and deeper worries about privacy, surveillance, vendor lock‑in, and Real ID’s tighter linkage of identity to federal databases. Many see open standards and selective data sharing (e.g., age‑only proofs) as promising, but remain wary of a future where access to public and online services depends on proprietary digital IDs.

Adoption and State Differences

  • Hawai‘i adding IDs to Apple Wallet is seen as positive, with envy from residents of states lagging behind (e.g., CA, OR, KY, NY).
  • Some states already have digital IDs via state apps (CA, NY, UT, MD, GA, etc.), but quality and usefulness vary widely; some are clunky, buggy, or not widely accepted.
  • Google Wallet support exists for IDs in several states (AZ, CA, CO, GA, MD); Apple Wallet support is expanding but uneven.

Practical Usability and Reliability

  • Many report almost no real-world use: TSA acceptance is inconsistent, and some airports or TSA scanners frequently fail, forcing fallback to physical IDs.
  • Local law enforcement, bars, and restaurants in some states often refuse digital IDs.
  • Bars and POS systems aren’t yet well-adapted to Apple/Google Pay for running tabs; dynamic card numbers and workflows create friction.

Legal Scope and Limitations

  • In some jurisdictions, digital licenses explicitly cannot substitute for a physical card for police orders or alcohol purchase.
  • Concerns raised that this undermines the point of digital IDs, since police can already look up license records. Others cite offline verification and anti-forgery traditions.

Platforms, Standards, and Vendor Lock-In

  • Debate over tying government IDs to specific corporate wallets; some see it as problematic “fast lanes” for certain phone users.
  • Others note the underlying use of open standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 18013-5) and that states maintain their own infrastructure, with Apple/Google as implementers.
  • Complaints about states choosing proprietary vendor apps instead of wallet integration.

Motivations and Business Models

  • Many see this as part of Apple/Google’s push to replace physical wallets, drive use of mobile payments, and, for Apple, earn payment fees.
  • Also viewed as competitive feature-lock and ecosystem “moats,” plus data/engagement funnels (especially for Google).

Privacy, Surveillance, and Online Identity

  • Some welcome selective disclosure (e.g., proving age without revealing address) as better than physical IDs.
  • Others fear creep toward mandatory ID for online services, loss of anonymity, easier deplatforming, and China-style social control.
  • Mixed views on “real identity” platforms vs pseudonymous forums; concerns about chilling effects but also about spam and future LLM-driven fake users.

Real ID and Identity Policy

  • Discussion on Real ID as a federalized standard tied to SSNs; some see it as stronger, more legitimate identity proof, others as expensive theater that harms marginalized groups.
  • Voter ID and broader ID-access inequality are raised as serious side effects.