Apple's Digital ID: The Beginning Of A New Normal

A quiet revolution is unfolding right before our eyes. What once sounded like a far-off concept--digital identity systems that verify who you are with a tap of a phone--is no longer theoretical. It is here, expanding rapidly, and being adopted by governments and corporations at a stunning pace. Apple's new Digital ID feature is only the latest sign that society is moving toward a world where identity verification is constant, required, and digitally enforced. The question isn't if digital IDs will become mainstream. The question is how quickly this transformation will overtake everyday life--and what it will mean for privacy, freedom, and the future direction of society.

Apple has begun testing its new Digital ID feature inside the Wallet app, allowing users to upload passports and verify their identity using simple facial-movement checks. For now, the tool is limited to U.S. domestic air travel and accepted by the TSA at more than 250 airport checkpoints. But Apple is not hiding its larger ambition: Digital ID is intended to become a universal verification tool for age checks, venue access, online platforms, and potentially even government services.

This turns your iPhone into a kind of passport for everyday life--a single device that proves who you are, where you can go, and what you're allowed to access. And Apple is not alone. Governments worldwide are accelerating the rollout of centralized identity systems:
Australia Canada United States

Some companies have responded by blocking access to residents of those states--instead of collecting sensitive biometric data--an ominous sign of how digital identity is reshaping the internet. The message is clear: the world is rapidly moving toward a system where access--to websites, airports, workplaces, nightlife, and even public spaces--will increasingly depend on a digital credential. (Read More)