Apple is working on security verification with selfies!

In the code of iOS15, we see that Apple is working on security verification with selfies to validate ID cards in the Wallet app.

The tech giant plans to expand the Wallet app’s feature in iOS15 to include support for government-issued IDs. This allows users to carry digital versions of credentials, such as a driver’s license, on the iPhone.

Apple security verification with selfies

The latest iOS15 beta was released this week. In the code, we see that users who want to add an ID to the Wallet are guided through an onboarding process. This involves creating images of their faces to verify a claimed identity. This reports 9to5Mac.

It’s a bit like setting up Face ID. Especially the animation that encourages users to turn their heads and perform other movements. This while the front camera captures an image of their face. What is different though is that ID card verification asks users to look sideways, close their eyes, raise their eyebrows, open their mouth and smile.

Safety

It is of course useful if you can have your driver’s license with you digitally. Your smartphone becomes your digital storage for all your important documents. The government is far from that, but Apple is working to realize this (technically).

The feature is rolling out first in the US to store IDs, complete with name, date of birth, photo, and real ID status, in a secure and encrypted location on the iPhone for later recall. Access is secured with Face ID or password. We suspect that it may take some time before this is really usable in practice.