Real ID compliance refers to the adherence to federal standards for state-issued identification cards, such as driver's licenses, as mandated by the Real ID Act of 2005. As a result, states must implement stricter verification processes and security features to prevent identity theft and enhance national security, making Real ID-compliant IDs essential for accessing certain federal facilities, boarding domestic flights, and entering nuclear power plants, thereby affecting millions of Americans and influencing the tech community's approach to identity verification and authentication.