Remember that plan the IRS had that would require taxpayers to prove their identity via facial recognition software before they could sign on to their website? Yeah, they scratched the idea after taking heat from privacy groups, politicians, and pretty much everyone concerned with privacy.
Here’s part of the official statement they released, saying they will “transition away from using a third-party verification service involving facial recognition.”
The IRS still wants more proof of who you are, so they will be adding an “additional authentication process,” but this new one will not use facial recognition technology.
Here’s the idea they initially wanted to go with. The IRS was going to require a new verification process for logging in to its website starting this summer. The process involved taking a picture of your driver’s license or passport, then taking a video selfie with your phone or computer so the third party technology could compare the two. Make sure you can prove who you say you were.
It’s not exactly shocking that millions of people were creeped out by that idea.
If you are wondering, there are no laws that regulate how the federal government uses facial recognition software.
Over a dozen Congress members sent letters to the IRS, asking them nicely to abort the mission. Here’s an excerpt from the letter Ron Wyden fired off.
“I understand the transition process may take time, but I appreciate that the administration recognizes that privacy and security are not mutually exclusive and no one should be forced to submit to facial recognition to access critical government services.”
Hopefully, the IRS can focus on processing the 6-plus million returns they are behind on from 2021.
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