The IRS Needs to Stop Using ID.me’s Face Recognition, Privacy Experts Warn

The issue also gained Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden’s attention. In a tweet, Wyden said he was “very disturbed” that some taxpayers may feel like they need to submit to a facial recognition scene. “While e-filing returns remain unaffected, I’m pushing the IRS for greater transparency on this plan.”

Though this particular instance happens to narrowly focus on ID., Stanley, the ACLU attorney, said the transparency issues highlighted are evidence of an overall system in need of a review from top to bottom.

“The infrastructure here of having a for-profit company doing what is probably an essential government function [verifying identities] is a broken way to build this kind of identity proofing system.”