DC Council unanimously passes law allowing residents to opt for digital driver's license

Weighing pros and cons of digital driver's licenses

Digital driver's licenses for D.C. residents are one step closer to reality after the DC Council unanimously passed the law this week allowing people to opt for a digital license. However, some are worried about the potential risks involved.

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Digital driver's licenses for D.C. residents are one step closer to reality after the DC Council unanimously passed the law this week allowing people to opt for a digital license.

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However, some are worried about the potential risks involved.

"I find that digital stuff seems to cause troubles for people it can get hacked," one resident told FOX 5.

Private and cybersecurity expert Peter Swire says if digital licenses work how they're supposed to, there are advantages such as updating automatically.

He also says they're designed to only show information you want shown.

"So, if you go into a bar, proving your name and your age might be all that’s really needed. They don’t need to get your home address and right now some bars take pictures of people’s driver’s licenses and put that into a mailing list," he tells FOX 5.

However, he does say there are problems that could arise.

"I could try to fake you out by seeming to have a license I don’t have. Somebody could hack into the database and say I don’t have a license, but I do have a license. So, there’s risks on both ends, but there’s risk with fake ID’s now," Swire says.

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The bill now awaits D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's signature.