What Is the ISO 18013-5 Standard?

Smartphones now manage much of our daily lives, from paying bills to ordering groceries. Despite this digital shift, many individuals still rely on physical driver’s licenses that have remained largely unchanged for decades. Mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) offer a modern solution for identity verification, addressing the need for secure digital identification.

However, simply taking a photo of a physical license is insufficient. A secure and universally accepted system must meet the demands of everyday situations, such as boarding flights, purchasing age-restricted products, or renting vehicles. This necessity underscores the importance of the ISO 18013-5 standard.

The ISO 18013-5 standard establishes a crucial framework for the implementation and functionality of mDLs. It tackles key issues such as preventing identity theft and ensuring the acceptance of digital licenses across various platforms and scenarios. This article will explore the significance of this standard and its impact on the future of digital identification.

What Is the ISO 18013-5 Standard?

The ISO 18013-5 standard is an international framework that defines the technical specifications and guidelines for mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) and their verification. Jointly developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this standard ensures that mDLs are secure, interoperable, and privacy-focused, providing a universal foundation for their implementation across various regions and countries.

The primary objective of ISO 18013-5 is to enable safe and reliable identity authentication, safeguarding the privacy of mDL holders and ensuring data integrity. It establishes how mDLs should communicate with verification systems, emphasizing cryptographically secure data transfers to prevent tampering and unauthorized access. This makes the standard essential for seamless cross-border and multi-jurisdictional usage of mDLs.

What Caused the Development of ISO 18013-5? 

The development of ISO/IEC 18013-5 was driven by the rapid shift toward digital transformation and the need for secure, standardized mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs). With the increasing adoption of smartphones, the demand for digital versions of essential identification documents surged. Traditional physical licenses often exposed more information than necessary, such as a full address during age verification, raising concerns over privacy and data protection. ISO 18013-5 addresses these issues by enabling mDLs to share only relevant data needed for verification while keeping personal information secure.

Interoperability across states and countries was another key driver behind the development of this standard. The need for mDLs to be universally accepted without jurisdictional limitations highlighted the importance of a unified, globally recognized framework. By defining specific security protocols and privacy measures, ISO 18013-5 enables mDLs to provide robust identity verification solutions that comply with both international and domestic data protection regulations. This standard streamlines identity verification and sets a foundation for digital ID advancements focused on user control, security, and global usability.

How ISO 18013-5 Standard Improves Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs)

The ISO 18013-5 standard is essential for ensuring that mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) are secure, privacy-focused, and interoperable. This comprehensive framework guides mDL implementation from secure data handling to international recognition. Below are key areas where ISO 18013-5 impacts mDLs:

1. Establishing Secure Data Transmission

ISO 18013-5 enforces encrypted data transfer protocols to protect user information during transactions. For example, when a TSA officer scans a traveler’s mDL at an airport, encryption protects personal details like name, photo, and license status from interception. This addresses growing concerns about data privacy. According to Pew Research, many Americans lack confidence in the security of their data. ISO-compliant mDLs mitigate these risks by making data breaches and unauthorized access significantly more difficult.

2. Enabling Selective Disclosure of Information

A standout feature of ISO 18013-5 is its support for selective data sharing. This enables users to disclose only relevant information for specific situations. For example, when purchasing alcohol, an individual can confirm their age with an mDL without revealing sensitive details such as their full address or driver’s license number.

3. Ensuring Cross-Border Interoperability

ISO 18013-5 ensures that mDLs are recognized and verifiable internationally. For example, a tourist from France visiting Canada could use their ISO-compliant mDL at a hotel or rental agency without needing a physical ID that might not be accepted. Given that international tourist arrivals approached 1 billion in 2023, the demand for interoperable digital IDs is increasing, and ISO 18013-5 helps meet this global need.

4. Supporting Secure Identity Verification

The standard mandates the use of cryptographic signatures for verifying state-issued identity data. For example, a bank in New York can rely on an mDL’s digital signature for secure customer onboarding without the need for a physical ID check.

5. Facilitating Remote Management and Updates

ISO 18013-5 allows secure remote updates, enabling users to update details like addresses or renew licenses conveniently. This was especially beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic when remote access to services became critical.

6. Compatibility with Existing ID Systems

ISO 18013-5 ensures mDLs can integrate with both traditional and modern ID verification systems. This compatibility allows mDLs to be used seamlessly with existing infrastructure, such as law enforcement checks and new digital verification tools, making them practical for a wide range of scenarios.

What Are the Benefits of the ISO 18013-5 Standard?

Knowing what the ISO 18013-5 standard is and how it works, you can cleary see the benefits. It focuses g on enhancing the security, usability, and interoperability of digital identification systems. Below is an in-depth look at the benefits for governments, businesses, and individuals:

For Governments

• Standardized Issuance: The standard provides a uniform framework for issuing mDLs with strong security and privacy protections. This ensures that government-issued digital IDs comply with global best practices.
• Cross-Border Interoperability: ISO 18013-5 facilitates the international acceptance of mDLs, allowing governments to create IDs that can be trusted and used across borders, which is essential for global travel and international transactions.
• Operational Efficiency: By supporting digital issuance and renewal processes, the standard helps reduce administrative costs and streamlines the management of driver’s licenses.
• Enhanced Security for Public Services: Governments benefit from more reliable digital identification tools for law enforcement and other services, improving both convenience and public safety.

For Businesses

• Efficient Verification: The standard provides businesses with a reliable and secure method for identity verification, reducing customer onboarding time and enhancing user experience.
• Reduced Fraud Risk: By enabling verification of only the necessary identity details, businesses can lower the risk of fraud and associated liabilities. This selective data-sharing approach also helps maintain customer privacy.
• Cost Savings and Compliance: Implementing standardized, privacy-focused protocols helps businesses manage compliance requirements more effectively, protecting customer data and reducing costs related to data management.

For Individuals

• Convenience and Control: ISO 18013-5 allows individuals to maintain control over their personal data through selective data-sharing options, such as verifying age without disclosing additional personal details.
• Widespread Recognition: mDLs designed under this standard are recognized across different jurisdictions, simplifying travel and identity verification both locally and internationally.
• Enhanced Personal Security: The standard ensures that digital IDs are secure and tamper-proof, providing individuals with stronger protection against  identity theft and unauthorized data access.

Challenges in Developing a Global mDL Standard

Creating a global standard for mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs), such as ISO 18013-5, can face several significant challenges and obstacles. These can include:

1. Regulatory Differences

Countries vary widely in privacy laws and digital ID policies. For example, EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates strict data privacy protections, while U.S. states have differing regulations regarding data handling. Additionally, some countries favor centralized ID systems, such as India’s Aadhaar, while others support decentralized models like those in Estonia and Buenos Aires. These differences complicate the creation of a standard that can be accepted universally without violating local laws.

2. Technological Challenges

Implementing a globally compatible mDL system also encounters technological hurdles, particularly due to varying levels of infrastructure across countries. The high-security standards outlined in ISO 18013-5 require advanced cryptographic capabilities and real-time data verification, which may be difficult to achieve in regions with limited digital infrastructure or internet connectivity. Furthermore, older verification systems may not be compatible with the encryption and verification technologies necessary for mDLs, leading to additional costs for countries that need to update their infrastructure.

3. Cross-Border Compatibility

For mDLs to be effective globally, they must be accepted across borders. However, countries differ in data formats, protocols, and trust systems. While ISO 18013-5 provides a technical framework for mDLs, achieving true cross-border compatibility—similar to passport recognition—would require international agreements. Without such agreements, nations may hesitate to accept foreign mDLs that do not fully align with their security and privacy expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ISO 18013-5 standard represents a significant advancement in the creation of secure, privacy-focused, and interoperable mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs). However, developing a universal mDL standard presents several challenges. Addressing these challenges will require collaboration among governments, regulatory bodies, and technology developers to align legal frameworks and establish the necessary infrastructure.

Creating mutual recognition agreements between countries can enhance cross-border functionality, allowing mDLs to be accepted globally. Additionally, increasing public awareness and education will help build trust in mDLs, highlighting their privacy benefits and accelerating user adoption. Ultimately, while ISO 18013-5 brings us closer to a secure, user-controlled digital identity, overcoming these challenges is essential for establishing a seamless global mDL ecosystem. This progress may bring us one step closer to a fully decentralized future where users have greater control over their data.

Identity.com

The work of Identity.com, as a future-oriented company, is helping many businesses by giving their customers a hassle-free identity verification process. Our company envisions a user-centric internet where individuals maintain control over their data. This commitment drives Identity.com to actively contribute to this future through innovative identity management systems and protocols.

As members of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), we uphold the standards for the World Wide Web and work towards a more secure and user-friendly online experience. Identity.com is an open-source ecosystem providing access to on-chain and secure identity verification. Our solutions improve the user experience and reduce onboarding friction through reusable and interoperable Gateway Passes. Please get in touch for more info about how we can help you with identity verification and general KYC processes.