Florida pulls digital driver’s license from app stores without explanation

TALLAHASSEE — After spending $1.5 million on development and two years since its launch, the state has pulled its digital driver’s license application from iOS and Android app stores and deactivated it.

But the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles didn’t say why.

The move sidelines — at least for now — a troubled effort to bring Florida driver’s licenses into the digital age. From the beginning, the app has been plagued with glitches that limited its utility.

As of this week, the agency’s website FAQ page for the app said: “The Florida Smart ID applications will be updated and improved by a new vendor. At this time, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is removing the current Florida Smart ID application from the app store.”

A notification sent out Wednesday to residents who downloaded the app said: “Once a new vendor is selected, improvements will be made to the Florida Smart ID application.” The new app should be developed by early 2025, the notice said.

In the meantime, the notice said, people should remove the app from their smart devices since it is not functional.

“Please note, your data remains secure with the Department,” the notice said.

Computer systems within the state’s Department of Health and Department of Juvenile Justice were hacked earlier this year.

When asked for a response, a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles spokeswoman said: “We have received your email and will be in touch.”

Several users were surprised by the app’s disappearance.

“I’ve been using the Florida Smart ID app for awhile and just received an email out of the blue that they are redeveloping with a new vendor and thus the Virtual ID can’t be used until 2025. What the heck. Florida is such a mess,” Korin Reid from Wellington posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Josh Buonocore responded that he hopes Florida switches to Apple or Google Wallets. “But I’m relieved to see that while the state isn’t happy with the vendor and removed it, our ‘data remains secure with the Department,’ lolol.”

The agency contracted with Thales Defense and Security, a Clarksburg, Maryland-based subsidiary of a French company, in July 2020 to develop the app for $1.8 million as part of its modernization efforts. Thales received $1.05 million in 2021 for developing it and another $400,000 in June for maintenance, according to state purchase orders.

According to IDScan.net, the agency soft-launched the app in 2022 — which allowed people to download their driver’s license information onto their smart device and have it displayed as a QR code or bar code scan.

Initially, the state didn’t require Florida law enforcement agencies or businesses to accept the digital ID and people still had to carry their printed license with them while driving. But later the state said the app could be used in place of a physical license.

Still, it never gained wide popularity amid reports it was difficult to use. Florida has issued an estimated 18 million driver’s licenses, but as of 2023, the app has only been downloaded 154,000 times, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

People reported that it couldn’t be downloaded into Apple Wallet or they had difficulty activating it or taking a required selfie.

PCMag reported a Thales spokesperson said the company’s contract with the agency expired June 30.

“The project has now entered a new phase in which the (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) requirements have evolved, necessitating a retender,” Thales told PCMag. “Thales chose not to compete in this tender. However, we are pleased to have been a part of this pioneering solution and wishes it continued success.”

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