This week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced the “Ban IRS Biometrics Act.”
Scott’s proposal “would ban the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from requiring taxpayers to submit biometric data such as ‘selfie’ style face scans to log in to accounts, access refunds and file taxes.”
The IRS had floated the idea of having Americans use biometric data to access but recently announced that it had decided not to go that route.
“While the IRS has now claimed it will not further pursue this plan, the American people cannot ignore the concerns that this gross invasion of privacy raises regarding the collection and security of cataloged data on every American taxpayer – especially following previous IRS data breaches which leaked the confidential personal data of U.S. taxpayers,” Scott’s office noted.
“The fact that the Biden administration would even consider requiring Americans to use facial recognition system just to file their taxes is both unsurprising and deeply concerning,” Scott said on Tuesday. “I’m glad that Biden’s IRS finally listened to my warnings and reversed its horrible proposal – but we must ensure this disastrous idea is never entertained again. The safety of Americans’ personal information must always be a priority, which is why I am introducing my Ban IRS Biometrics Act. I thank the cosponsors for joining me in this fight and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.”
Five Republican senators–U.S. Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Ted Cruz of Texas, Joni Ernst of Iowa, John Kennedy of Louisiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama–are co-sponsoring Scott’s bill.
“The IRS has absolutely no reason to force Americans to submit their biometric data in order to access government services. I am proud to join Senator Scott in the introduction of the Ban IRS Biometrics Act to ensure the IRS is prohibited from implementing this gross invasion of privacy, especially given how politicized the IRS has become under the past two Democratic administrations,” said Cruz
