[Skywise]

On the face of it - yeah - but the backend is different. RealID certification links your “state ID” with your address and name to your SSN in a federal database.

Before this all states (and sometimes just the county and not even the state) held that information in wholly separate records collections with varying levels of validation.

That’s why you can’t fly without “RealID”

[palmer]

RealID certification links your “state ID” with your address and name to your SSN in a federal database.

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, federal databases are much worse than the state and local databases (e.g. those needed for voting). "Papers please" is fine if a local cop pulls you over. Otherwise it is not.