The deadline for REAL ID enforcement is approaching, causing concerns among some individuals.
Starting May 7, adults will need a compliant driver's license or ID to board domestic flights and access certain facilities, although passports remain acceptable.
The implementation of REAL ID, derived from the 2005 Act, has faced challenges with states expressing opposition due to high costs and privacy concerns. Advocacy groups have echoed these worries.
Alexis Hancock from the Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized the program for potentially compromising privacy and marginalizing certain groups.
Hancock also raised concerns about the centralized storage of information and the risks associated with transferring sensitive data between states.
The American Civil Liberties Union has warned about the impact of REAL ID on privacy and data tracking, emphasizing the potential negative consequences of turning driver's licenses into national identity documents.
Jay Stanley from the ACLU highlighted the ongoing privacy concerns around standardized identity systems and the risks associated with digital IDs.
The Transportation Security Administration clarified that REAL ID sets minimum standards and does not create a federal database, emphasizing that each state maintains its own unique license records.
For more travel news, contact Nathan Diller at ndiller@usatoday.com.