The Secure Element, a certified chip that meets industry standards, will securely store sensitive data on the device. The transaction process will also utilize other Apple technologies, such as the Secure Enclave and biometric authentication, to ensure robust security for users. In a Forbes article, David Birch commented that this development is significant because opening up this hardware will revolutionize both digital payments and digital identity ecosystems. He noted that the SE is tamper-resistant hardware, similar to mobile SIM cards and chip-and-PIN cards, and developers can use it to manage the cryptographic keys that are crucial to online security.

https://mobileidworld.com/anticipating-digital-ids-apple-opens-access-to-nfc-secure-element/