Google Wallet Adding Support For Digital UK Passports, 3 More State IDs

Following US support, Google Wallet for Android now lets those in the United Kingdom create digital ID passes with their UK passports. Other updates today include more state IDs and work on privacy-preserving age verification.

UK passports can be saved in the Google Wallet app as an ID pass. To start, tap Add to Wallet in the bottom-right corner > ID > ID pass and follow the instructions. 

In the US, they can be used at TSA checkpoints in select airports, but “ID passes created from UK passports are not currently eligible for use at TSA security.” Instead, Google is “partnering with Rail Delivery Group, which will offer train travelers the opportunity to use their digital ID to verify that they meet the eligibility criteria for select Railcards on its Railcard retailing platform railcard.co.uk.”

This works via the web, with a system-level sheet having you confirm that you want to share your ID pass with a third-party service.

Google is also “exploring certification within the digital identity trust framework of the U.K.’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which could allow residents to use their Google Wallet ID passes for alcohol purchases and more.”

Meanwhile, Google Wallet shared that Arkansas, Montana, and West Virginia, as well as Puerto Rico, will soon add digital ID support. 

At the moment, there’s support for Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico. Google in September said to also expect Iowa and Ohio.

Google today teased how those in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland and New Mexico will soon “be able to use their mobile IDs at the DMV for improved and streamlined customer experiences.” Additionally, Google is working with partners to let digital IDs be used online to:

• “recover Amazon accounts”
• “access online health services with CVS and MyChart by Epic”
• “verify profiles on platforms like Uber and more”

Google also announced today that Wallet is integrating Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology that “means there is no way to link the age back to your identity.”

Given many sites and services require age verification, we wanted to develop a system that not only verifies age, but does it in a way that protects your privacy.

This can be leveraged by mobile devices, apps and websites that use Google’s Digital Credential API.

We will use ZKP where appropriate in other Google products and partner with apps like Bumble, which will use digital IDs from Google Wallet to verify user identity and ZKP to verify age. To help foster a safer, more secure environment for everyone, we will also open source our ZKP technology to other wallets and online services.

Finally, Google Wallet is coming to 50 more countries. However, this just provides access to digital passes and not tap-to-pay.

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