Californians will soon be able to add driver's licenses to Apple, Google wallets

Californians' driver's licenses are going digital as people will soon be able to carry them in their Apple or Google wallets, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The governor's office says it's a secure and convenient tool that will allow users to more easily undergo ID verification, such as airport screenings.

Driving the news: The virtual wallet capabilities, which are set to roll out "in the coming weeks," will allow users to add and access California driver's licenses and ID cards on their iPhones, Apple Watch and Android devices — similar to credit cards.

• They will be authorized for use in TSA screenings, select apps and select businesses, such as Circle K . Participating airports in the state include SFO, SJC and LAX.
• The new format, which Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to announce Thursday, is part of the DMV's broader mobile driver's license (mDL) pilot , which launched last year.

What they're saying: "This is a big step in our efforts to better serve all Californians, meeting people where they're at and with technology people use every day," Newsom said in a statement shared first with Axios.

Caveat: Californians who add a driver's license to their Apple or Google wallets must still carry their physical ID card as required by law.

• The state's pilot program is currently limited to 1.5 million participants.
• Over 500,000 people have already added a driver's license or ID to the California DMV Wallet app , which debuted as part of the pilot last year.

The big picture: California is the latest in a string of states that have turned to mDL programs in the last few years.

• Proponents, which include the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the Secure Technology Alliance , say mDL protects users from identity theft and fraud while limiting the amount of information shared in a transaction or screening.
• At least 5 million Americans have registered for state mobile ID programs nationwide, according to public records obtained by Government Technology. Louisiana, Colorado and Arizona have the highest number of registrations.

Yes, but: Privacy experts and civil rights groups, including the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation , warn that while digital IDs have their advantages, concerns about data privacy and surveillance can't be ignored.

• Without proper safeguards, it could allow for tracking of everyday activities and give private companies and government agencies ID holders' data without consent, they argue.
• The National Immigration Law Center and Surveillance Resistance Lab have also released fact sheets detailing outsized risks for immigrants, whose information they say could become more easily accessible to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The other side: The DMV has said it does not permanently retain personal data other than the mDL user's phone number and an encrypted photo of their license or ID card.

• It promises that usage is not tracked and that no data leaves a device without the user's consent.

What we're watching: The pilot was created through state legislation , so the Legislature would need to take action to increase the capacity from 1.5 million participants and/or make it permanent.

• The DMV plans to host community "hackathons" this fall to promote broader mDL adoption among interested groups, which it says include financial institutions, retail establishments and law enforcement.