Sure - I like this in theory. As many have pointed out the privacy aspects, I just don't see it working. I won't even get my insurance cards for my vehicles put on my phone for exactly the same reason. You hand over an unlocked phone, you hand over the keys to your life.
Some have stated that having it available on the lock screen is a solution. I'd argue that there's too much information to make it widely available to anyone who finds your phone. So the next step is - Only show Name and then use TouchID or password to unlock the rest of the license without unlocking the phone. That might be a valid compromise, but it demonstrates which finger activates TouchID (not a big deal anyway) or that you actively know your password (In case you wanted to plead later that you forgot your password.)
So - I guess I'd like to see a "Lock Screen Feature" where you swipe Left <- and it brings across "Lock Screen Apps". Maybe only 4-5 items vertically along the right edge that you can customize and place. 1. Driver's License 2. Insurance Card 3.- 5. ??? Each one would launch with phone still locked with minimal information and while open, the entire ID / Information could be made available with your authorization.
woah - wait. Even better. A driver's license QR code that the officer scans and then his Gov't machines retrieves the license on his own equipment.
Of course - the downside of putting a Gov't app on your phone is maybe there's some kind of backdoor built in? Perhaps if you've got a withings scale, they update your bio information dynamically and report it back to their databases? Maybe uses facial recognition to scan photos app and automatically update to the latest best photo of you?
Possibilities are endless and endlessly scary.
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My guess is that something will happen where a police officer uses evidence found on a phone during a traffic stop and then it will go to court to decide if a phone can be searched without a warrant.
Currently, there is a "plain sight" exception to the requirement to obtain a search warrant and I would guess that it will be argued that moving away from your digital ID screen means it was not it plain sight. But this will likely have to be decided in court.
Disclaimer: not a lawyer
Until someone texts you about weed (either legitimately or joking, context matters) but that gives the officer who saw that ill-timed notification probable cause to navigate away from the license and see what other incriminating information can be discerned.
I recently switched my settings away from showing preview on messages in the notifications and on lock screen. Makes it a bit more cumbersome to read messages, but I do feel a lot better knowing that only I am looking at these.
We are all just a bag of chips....
