Finding bipartisan cooperation seems rare these days. Thankfully, on this one, Democrats and Republicans got it right.
A few months ago, the IRS announced plans that would require anyone attempting to view their tax information via the IRS site or app to establish a comprehensive facial recognition profile through a software platform called ID.me. Those who already had traditional login credentials would no longer be able to access their profile beginning in summer of 2022 and anyone wishing to establish new access would do so solely through this biometric platform.
The IRS cited increased fraudulent benefit claims alongside limited funding for cybersecurity staff to justify these new biometric security measures. The IRS’s deficiencies are real, but fortunately, Congress members on either side of the aisle made it known that the solution(s) will not come at the cost of taxpayers’ privacy and resources.
Perhaps the most poignant argument of opposition is security. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon argued that “No one should be forced to submit to facial recognition to access critical government services.” Not to mention, what would become of the information if the US government ever ended its relationship with the software provider – a point made in a letter from 14 Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee. The ever-expanding world of digital information is fraught with security threats and US government entities have certainly not been immune.
Access presents another key issue. There are millions upon millions of Americans that do not own both web cameras and smartphones. Lawmakers argue that implementation of this security protocol would place an undue burden upon that group of Americans who, coincidentally, are also far more likely to rely on government assistance programs administered through the IRS.
Whether you prioritize access or security, both are viable arguments. Fortunately, vehement opposition from Congress resulted in a total elimination of the mandate by the IRS earlier this month (02/07/2022). Undoubtedly, automation and increased digital security measures will continue to expand and impact our daily lives – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But this time they seem to have gotten it right.
