UK Digital Passport on Phone: Google Wallet Big Update Explained

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UK Digital Passport on Phone: Google Wallet Big Update Explained

Google Wallet is undergoing a significant transformation, with the upcoming ability for UK residents to store their passports directly on their smartphones. This groundbreaking feature, known as a UK digital passport on phone, represents a pivotal step in Google’s broader vision of mainstreaming digital identification for seamless and convenient use.

The enhancements extend beyond just passport storage. Google is committed to expanding digital ID support globally, incorporating functionalities that enhance both safety and efficiency in everyday interactions.

For a deeper dive into these changes and their implications, let’s explore the details, as originally covered on the Orcacore website.

Understanding the UK Digital Passport on Phone

A digital passport on your phone essentially mirrors your physical passport, securely housed within the Google Wallet app. While it’s not intended as a complete replacement for the traditional paper passport at this stage, it offers a practical means of verifying your identity for various purposes. This includes accessing online services requiring ID verification, purchasing age-restricted goods like alcohol, and proving your identity at retail outlets or government facilities.

Google emphasizes the simplicity of the setup process: users scan their passport, then scan the embedded chip, followed by a brief video selfie to confirm their identity.

The latest Google Wallet update specifically introduces support for digital UK passports.

Google Wallet UK Digital Passport on Phone

Where does Google Wallet support digital IDs?

The UK is one of many U.S. states and areas testing digital ID capabilities. Google Wallet currently allows digital IDs in:

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Georgia
  • Maryland
  • New Mexico

And more are coming soon, including:

  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Oklahoma
  • Utah

This highlights Google Wallet’s rapid expansion, indicating that more people worldwide will soon be able to store their IDs on their phones.

How Will People Use Their Digital IDs?

Google has provided several real-world examples of how people in the U.S. can use their mobile IDs:

  • At the DMV: In Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico, people will be able to use their phone-based ID at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to speed up services like renewing a license.

  • Online services: Google is working with companies to make digital IDs useful on websites and apps. For example, users can recover their Amazon account, access health services through CVS or MyChart (by Epic), verify profiles on Uber, and more!

This indicates that your phone’s digital ID will not only be useful in person, but will also make things smoother and safer online.

What is Google ZKP technology?

One of the new features in Google Wallet is called Zero Knowledge Proof, or ZKP. ZKP is a privacy tool that helps you prove your age without revealing your name, address, or full identity. So if you’re buying alcohol or signing up for a service that needs to check your age, ZKP will confirm you’re old enough, without giving away extra personal details. This is a big win for privacy, especially for teens and young adults.

Google says it will:

  • Allow users to prove their age or identity without sharing unnecessary personal information.
  • Work seamlessly with services that need to verify user information.
  • Help protect users from identity theft and fraud.

So your UK digital passport on phone might one day help you verify who you are on dating apps or age-restricted websites, while protecting your privacy.

Is Google Wallet Digital Passport Safe?

Yes, Google has strong security features. Your data is encrypted, so no one can read it without permission, and you will need a fingerprint or PIN to open your passport on your phone. Also, you can remotely remove your digital passport from a lost or stolen phone. ZKP means no one sees more than they need to.

In short, your digital ID will be safer than carrying a physical one in your wallet.

Can the UK Digital Passport be used for Travel?

For now, you cannot use the UK digital passport on phone to travel internationally. You’ll still need your physical passport at the airport. But this may change in the future as more countries accept digital IDs.

That said, you can use it for other everyday things like proving your age or confirming your identity for job applications or renting a car.

Global Updates for Google Digital Wallet

Google also announced that Google Wallet will be coming to 50 more countries soon! But in many of those places, it will only support digital passes (like event tickets or loyalty cards), not payments or digital IDs, at least for now.

Still, it’s a good sign that digital wallets are growing around the world, and soon, millions more people will be able to store important things on their phones.

How to get ready for using UK digital passport on phone?

To use your UK digital passport on phone once it launches, you’ll need:

  • A compatible Android phone with NFC capabilities.
  • The latest version of the Google Wallet app installed.
  • A valid UK passport.
  • A stable internet connection for the initial setup.

Once it becomes available in your region, just follow the setup steps in the app.

Final Words

Google Wallet is turning your phone into more than just a payment tool. With digital ID support including the UK digital passport on phone, it’s becoming a smart, secure place to carry the most important parts of your identity.

You’ll be able to use your digital passport at shops, online services, and government offices, and more features are coming soon. Add in privacy tech like ZKP, and it’s clear that Google is trying to make life easier and safer for users everywhere.

Hope you enjoy it. For more information, you can check the Google blogs

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Alternative Solutions for Digital Identity Verification

While Google Wallet’s approach offers a centralized and convenient solution for digital identity, alternative methods exist that could provide different benefits or cater to specific use cases. Here are two alternative approaches to digital identity verification:

1. Decentralized Identity (DID) and Blockchain

Explanation:

Decentralized Identity (DID) utilizes blockchain technology to give individuals greater control over their digital identities. Unlike Google Wallet, where identity data is stored and managed by a central authority, DIDs are self-sovereign. This means users own and control their identity data, storing it in a decentralized manner, typically on a blockchain or a distributed ledger.

Key features of DID include:

  • Self-Sovereignty: Users have complete control over their identity data and can selectively share it with verifiers.
  • Verifiable Credentials: Identity attributes are issued by trusted authorities (e.g., government agencies, universities) and cryptographically signed, making them verifiable.
  • Privacy-Preserving: DIDs allow users to disclose only the necessary information for a specific transaction, minimizing the risk of data breaches and identity theft.
  • Interoperability: DIDs are designed to be interoperable across different platforms and applications, enabling seamless identity verification across various ecosystems.

Code Example (Simplified DID Creation and Verification using a hypothetical library):

This example demonstrates the basic principles of DID, creating a DID, issuing a verifiable credential, and verifying it. This is a simplified illustration, and real-world implementations are significantly more complex.

# Hypothetical DID library (not a real library)
class DID:
    def __init__(self, identifier):
        self.identifier = identifier
        self.public_key = "SomePublicKey" # In reality, this would be a generated key
        self.private_key = "SomePrivateKey" # Keep this secret

class VerifiableCredential:
    def __init__(self, issuer_did, subject_did, claim, signature):
        self.issuer_did = issuer_did
        self.subject_did = subject_did
        self.claim = claim # e.g., {"age": 25}
        self.signature = signature

def sign_credential(credential, private_key):
    # Simplified signing (in reality, use cryptographic signing)
    return hash(str(credential) + private_key)

def verify_credential(credential, issuer_public_key):
    # Simplified verification (in reality, use cryptographic verification)
    expected_signature = hash(str(credential) + issuer_public_key)
    return credential.signature == expected_signature

# Example Usage
# 1. Create a DID for a user
user_did = DID("user123")

# 2. Create a DID for an issuer (e.g., a government agency)
issuer_did = DID("gov_agency")

# 3. Issue a verifiable credential
claim = {"age": 25} # User claims to be 25 years old
credential = VerifiableCredential(issuer_did.identifier, user_did.identifier, claim, None)
credential.signature = sign_credential(credential, issuer_did.private_key)

# 4. Verify the credential
is_valid = verify_credential(credential, issuer_did.public_key)

if is_valid:
    print("Credential is valid. User is verified.")
    print("Claimed age:", claim["age"])
else:
    print("Credential is not valid.")

Explanation of Code:

  1. DID Creation: A DID object is created for both the user and the issuer. In a real system, this would involve generating cryptographic key pairs.
  2. Credential Issuance: A VerifiableCredential object is created. The issuer signs the credential using their private key.
  3. Credential Verification: The verifier uses the issuer’s public key to verify the signature on the credential. If the signature is valid, the credential is considered authentic.

This simplified example showcases the core concepts. Real-world DID implementations involve complex cryptographic algorithms, distributed ledger technologies, and standardized protocols.

2. Federated Identity Management (FIdM)

Explanation:

Federated Identity Management (FIdM) allows users to use the same identity across multiple, distinct security domains or organizations. Instead of creating separate accounts for each service, users can log in with a single identity provider (IdP) they trust.

Key aspects of FIdM include:

  • Single Sign-On (SSO): Users can access multiple applications with a single set of credentials.
  • Trust Relationships: Organizations establish trust relationships to allow users to authenticate through a trusted IdP.
  • Identity Mapping: FIdM systems map user identities between different systems, enabling seamless access to resources.
  • Standards-Based: FIdM relies on open standards such as SAML, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect.

Code Example (Simplified OAuth 2.0 Flow):

This example demonstrates a simplified OAuth 2.0 flow for user authentication and authorization.

from flask import Flask, request, redirect, url_for, session
import requests

app = Flask(__name__)
app.secret_key = "super secret key" # Replace with a strong, random key

# OAuth 2.0 Configuration
CLIENT_ID = "your_client_id" # Replace with your client ID from the identity provider
CLIENT_SECRET = "your_client_secret" # Replace with your client secret
AUTHORIZATION_ENDPOINT = "https://example.com/oauth/authorize" # Replace with the authorization endpoint of the identity provider
TOKEN_ENDPOINT = "https://example.com/oauth/token" # Replace with the token endpoint
REDIRECT_URI = "http://localhost:5000/callback" # Replace with your redirect URI
USER_INFO_ENDPOINT = "https://example.com/oauth/userinfo" # Replace with the user info endpoint

@app.route("/")
def index():
    if "user_info" in session:
        return f"Logged in as {session['user_info']['name']} <a href='/logout'>Logout</a>"
    else:
        return "<a href='/login'>Login</a>"

@app.route("/login")
def login():
    # Construct the authorization URL
    authorization_url = f"{AUTHORIZATION_ENDPOINT}?client_id={CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri={REDIRECT_URI}&response_type=code&scope=profile"
    return redirect(authorization_url)

@app.route("/callback")
def callback():
    code = request.args.get("code")
    if code:
        # Exchange the authorization code for an access token
        token_response = requests.post(
            TOKEN_ENDPOINT,
            data={
                "grant_type": "authorization_code",
                "code": code,
                "redirect_uri": REDIRECT_URI,
                "client_id": CLIENT_ID,
                "client_secret": CLIENT_SECRET,
            },
        )
        token_response.raise_for_status()  # Raise an exception for bad status codes
        token_data = token_response.json()
        access_token = token_data["access_token"]

        # Use the access token to retrieve user information
        user_info_response = requests.get(
            USER_INFO_ENDPOINT,
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}"},
        )
        user_info_response.raise_for_status()
        user_info = user_info_response.json()

        session["user_info"] = user_info
        return redirect(url_for("index"))
    else:
        return "Authentication failed."

@app.route("/logout")
def logout():
    session.pop("user_info", None)
    return redirect(url_for("index"))

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app.run(debug=True)

Explanation of Code:

  1. Login: The /login route redirects the user to the identity provider’s authorization endpoint.
  2. Callback: The /callback route receives the authorization code from the identity provider. It exchanges the code for an access token.
  3. User Information Retrieval: The access token is used to retrieve user information from the identity provider’s user info endpoint.
  4. Logout: The /logout route clears the user session.

This is a simplified example. Real-world OAuth 2.0 implementations involve more complex error handling, security considerations, and token management.

Conclusion:

The introduction of a UK digital passport on phone within Google Wallet marks a significant advancement in digital identity management. While Google Wallet offers a convenient and centralized solution, decentralized identity and federated identity management present alternative approaches that prioritize user control, privacy, and interoperability. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the optimal solution may depend on the specific use case and requirements.

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