Consumers will be able to use their iPhone to pay for certain government-run services later this year.
Beginning in September, said Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple Pay will be available at government parks and with government credit cards. Cook also said Apple Pay may be used for social security payments and veteran’s pensions.
“We can imagine a day in the not so distant future when your wallet becomes a remnant of the past,” said Cook. “Your passport, your driver’s license and other important documents can be stored in a way that’s safe, secure, and easy to access, but only by you.”
Cook made the comments at the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection at Stanford University. Cook also reiterated the company’s stance on protecting consumer privacy.
“We believe deeply that everyone has a right to privacy and security,” said Cook. Apple doesn’t doesn’t collect consumer data concerning Apple Pay transactions. “Our customer’s trust means everything to us and we spent decades working to earn that trust.”