Digital Driving Licence

Completely re-imagining how a digital ID could work

Traficom’s Digital Driving License (DDL) uses custom visual elements for providing the level of security that is sufficient for daily use – removing the need for separate infrastructure for identification (such as QR readers and other backend solutions). DDL also allows faster deployment of a Driving License and keeps all the user information automatically up to date.

It removes the manual processes related to entering user information if changes occur or when the user initially receives their first driving license.

Identification in practice

In Finland driving licenses are mainly used in two scenarios: Driving License validation and identification. Identification takes place in everyday situations, for example when picking up a postal package. In Finland Driving License is the de facto user ID for everyone who has one. However the basic concept can be expanded to any sort of an ID card.

A digital driving licence shown on a smartphone screen, including a profile photo, personal details, and a barcode. The interface resembles a physical ID layout with digital security overlays.
User entering a four-digit PIN code on a smartphone screen to access the digital driving licence app. The app interface displays the Traficom logo and a numeric keypad.
A person holding up a smartphone displaying their digital driving licence for verification, showing a clear view of the licence with personal information and barcode.
A person presenting a large orange Posti parcel at a service desk, using their smartphone to show a digital driving licence as proof of identity.
Diagram showing layers of security in the digital driving licence app: interactive touch layer, gyroscope-connected digital watermark, and a dynamically generated background animation on a smartphone.

DDL has two main security levels: visual security and backend security.
The visual security level uses a gyroscope connected digital watermark combined with continuously animated dynamic OpenGL background, that supports interaction to prevent motion capture frauds. User information and image are always up to date, which makes it easier to identify the person.

A barcode is generated from user information to match the barcode in a physical driving license. Visual level security can be dynamically altered and pushed to the devices if a breach is detected.

Diagram of backend security in the digital driving licence system, showing a phone exchanging tokens and keys with Traficom’s backend through a secure gateway to ensure up-to-date user data.

In the onboarding phase, the user is securely identified using banking credentials. Backend security includes a QR code that is generated on device and in the backend with a specified period of validity. This ensures that the information on the device matches the information in the backend and the user is not using a fake application. Backend security has some other additional security features which are not to be described here.