By Fatima Hussein
The IRS said Monday it will suspend the use of facial recognition technology to authenticate people who create online accounts after the practice was criticized by privacy advocates and lawmakers.
The agency said it would no longer use a third-party service, called ID.me, for facial recognition. Critics of the software said the database could become a target for cyberthreats. They also expressed concern about how the information could be used by other government agencies, among other concerns.
Earlier Monday, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the agency to end its use of the ID.me software. After the IRS announced the practice would be suspended, Wyden said "the Treasury Department has made the smart decision to direct the IRS to transition away from using the controversial ID.me verification service.”
"No one should be forced to submit to facial recognition to access critical government services,” he added.
The IRS is currently grappling with a worker shortage and an expanded workload from processing tax filings and administering pandemic-related programs. Legislation that would have given the agency billions of dollars to more expeditiously process returns is stalled.
“The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we understand the concerns that have been raised,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.
“Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options that do not involve facial recognition.”
The agency said the transition would occur “over the coming weeks in order to prevent larger disruptions to taxpayers during filing season.”
Hedge fund manager and former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci joined Cheddar’s News Wrap Thursday evening with a warning about the current state of the S&P 500 index.
Democrats have formally nominated Joe Biden as their 2020 presidential nominee.
While Postmaster General Louis DeJoy halted operational changes at the USPS, California Rep. John Garamendi claims the concerted effort to destroy the post office was orchestrated by the Trump administration in order to steal the November election.
A day after Michelle Obama’s passion wowed Democrats on the opening night of the party's national convention, Joe Biden will draw on a collection of his party’s most experienced leaders.
The Postmaster general says he is halting some operational changes until after the November election.
President Donald Trump says he'll pardoned Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, who was arrested for voting in 1872 in violation of laws permitting only men to vote.
As the USPS rolls back its operational capacity, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is calling ono the postal chief to testify in front of congress. Andrea Thomas Haile, CEO of Vote.org, talks steps states can take to work around USPS limitations.
There was no central meeting place or cheering throng during the all-virtual Democratic National Convention on Monday night. But it was an opportunity for Democrats — and some Republicans — to rally behind Joe Biden, the party's presidential nominee.
As eviction moratoriums are lifted and extra federal unemployment assistance dries up, there is a broad consensus among housing experts that an evictions crisis is inevitable.
The Democratic Party will convene, sort of, amid a pandemic that has upended the usual pomp-and-circumstance of presidential nominating conventions.
