The Libertarian Party of Illinois has come out against the state’s new digital identification system, arguing that the program threatens privacy rights and expands state authority without reducing the existing reliance on physical identification cards.
In a November 20 statement received by Independent Political Report, the party declared its opposition to the program, which Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias officially launched earlier this week. The initiative allows Illinois residents to add a state driver’s license or ID to Apple Wallet, creating a digital credential linked to their physical document. The system does not replace physical cards but relies on a centralized infrastructure that could connect to state agency databases as the program expands.
“Digital IDs pose a profound risk to individual privacy and liberty, potentially serving as a mechanism for expanded government surveillance,” said Jim Humay, chair of the Libertarian Party of Illinois. “By centralizing personal data and integrating it with essential services, such systems could fundamentally alter the relationship between citizens and the state, shifting from one of limited governance to pervasive oversight.”
The party argues that the program conflicts with Article I, Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution by creating a central repository of identifying information that could be subject to search, seizure, or investigation. It also cited “historical precedents, including international examples” that it says demonstrate how digital ID systems can expand over time to monitor behavior or condition access to services.
The party further raised concerns that even a voluntary program may become coercive if eventually tied to banking, healthcare, transportation, or other essential services. It noted that any large-scale digital identity database would be vulnerable to cyberattacks, potentially exposing millions of residents to identity theft.
“Requiring individuals to present digital credentials for routine activities erodes the foundational principles of a free society,” Humay added. “We have observed similar systems lead to restrictions on dissent and economic participation elsewhere, and Illinois must avoid this trajectory under Secretary Giannoulias’s initiative.”
The Libertarian Party of Illinois called on lawmakers to reject any legislation or funding related to the digital ID program. It also urged Governor J.B. Pritzker to direct state agencies not to participate in its development and asked Secretary Giannoulias to halt its rollout. The party encouraged any residents concerned about privacy or civil liberties to contact their representatives.
Simple solution:
Don’t use CrApple products. They’re the Sony of cell phones: overpriced, underdeveloped, and overhyped.
And don’t store PII images on your cell phone, either.