US tax agency drops facial recognition plan after criticism

A file photo shows a view of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, DC. The US national tax authority announced that it will stop using facial recognition software to verify taxpayers’ identities when they create online accounts, following a chorus of privacy concerns. — AFP

WASHINGTON: The US national tax authority announced on Feb 7 that it will stop using facial recognition software to verify taxpayers’ identities when they create online accounts, following a chorus of privacy concerns.

Internal Revenue Service officials had put forth the authentication system as a security measure following years of growing fears over online scams and identity theft, but the program ended up also prompting worries.