Alaska Extends Contract with Gemalto to Enhance Driver’s License Security

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), and Alaska’s Division of Motor Vehicles will continue their work of providing credentials to citizens with the additional goal of helping the state become Real ID compliant by increasing security of the state’s driver’s license and identification cards.

The most noticeable change will be transitioning to a laser-engraved polycarbonate card body. What sets this material apart is the permanently fused layers with security features embedded in between, which prevents successful tampering with document information or swapping photos without visible destruction to the card.

Laser engraving can also be used to create personalized patterns and other unique information relating to the citizen’s identity that is invisible to the naked eye. Additional security features include surface embossing and irreversible laser-engraved personalization, which are appreciated by law enforcement agencies because these features can also be tactile.

Alaska has chosen to implement Multiple Laser Images (MLIs), an exceptionally effective level one security feature (visible to the naked eye) where different images such as a portrait, logo, symbol or numbers can be seen depending on the viewing angle. It’s also particularly favored by law enforcement and TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents as it is easy to recognize and extremely difficult to replicate.

"The ideas suggested by Gemalto for new secure card features will not only earn us Real ID compliance but ensure that our residents’ identities are that much more protected,” said Marla Thompson, DMV Director for the State of Alaska

"Gemalto has been transitioning government entities to polycarbonate for twenty years – starting with passports – so we are well-positioned to help Alaska with this shift,” said Steve Purdy, vice president of Government Programs, Gemalto. "With the addition of new security features, we will not only be able to create an attractive card but also greatly reduce the ability to tamper with or forge the document. Gemalto is looking forward to working with Alaska to bring enhanced service to residents with these latest innovations as well as exploring new technologies for the future.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the global leader in digital security, with 2017 annual revenues of €3 billion and customers in over 180 countries. We bring trust to an increasingly connected world.

From secure software to biometrics and encryption, our technologies and services enable businesses and governments to authenticate identities and protect data so they stay safe and enable services in personal devices, connected objects, the cloud and in between.

Gemalto’s solutions are at the heart of modern life, from payment to enterprise security and the internet of things. We authenticate people, transactions and objects, encrypt data and create value for software – enabling our clients to deliver secure digital services for billions of individuals and things.

Our 15,000 employees operate out of 114 offices, 40 personalization and data centers, and 35 research and software development centers located in 47 countries.

For more information visit www.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

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