IRS abandons facial recognition plan after firestorm of criticism (Washington Post, Feb 7, 2022)
Archived source: Washington Post, IRS backs away from face scans Feb 7, 2022. Captured from www.washingtonpost.com.
Cited in: Blake Hall
Cite this document
“IRS abandons facial recognition plan after firestorm of criticism (Washington Post, Feb 7, 2022).”
Original at www.washingtonpost.com. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/washington-post-irs-backs-away-from-face-scans-feb-7-2022-206aa6d6fe/
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[Accessibility statement](https://www.washingtonpost.com/accessibility/)[Skip to main content](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/07/irs-idme-face-scans/#main-content) [Democracy Dies in Darkness](https://www.washingtonpost.com/) [Save and subscribe](https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?oscode=RPWH&s_l=ONSITE_HEADER_ARTICLE&p=s_v&s_ct=article&itid=nav_subscribe_logged_out&tid=nav_subscribe_logged_out&acqEntType=mktg_onsite_article&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Ftechnology%2F2022%2F02%2F07%2Firs-idme-face-scans%2F&arcId=ETU4R2OUGVCSNKE4GO347SL57U)[Sign in](https://www.washingtonpost.com/subscribe/signin/?next_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Ftechnology%2F2022%2F02%2F07%2Firs-idme-face-scans%2F&nid=top_pb_signin&arcId=ETU4R2OUGVCSNKE4GO347SL57U&account_location=ONSITE_HEADER_ARTICLE&itid=nav_sign_in) Democracy Dies in Darkness [Tech](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/?itid=sn_tech_title)[Help Desk](https://www.washingtonpost.com/personal-tech/?itid=sn_tech_1/)[Artificial Intelligence](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/innovations/)[Internet Culture](https://www.washingtonpost.com/internet-culture/?itid=sn_tech_3/)[Space](https://www.washingtonpost.com/space/?itid=sn_tech_4/)[Tech Policy](https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech-policy/?itid=sn_tech_5/) [Tech](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/?itid=sn_tech_title)[Help Desk](https://www.washingtonpost.com/personal-tech/?itid=sn_tech_1/)[Artificial Intelligence](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/innovations/)[Internet Culture](https://www.washingtonpost.com/internet-culture/?itid=sn_tech_3/)[Space](https://www.washingtonpost.com/space/?itid=sn_tech_4/)[Tech Policy](https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech-policy/?itid=sn_tech_5/) # IRS abandons facial recognition plan after firestorm of criticism The agency had planned to require taxpayers send video scans of their face to a private company starting this summer Updated February 7, 2022 More than**4 years ago** 8 min 597 [Make us preferred on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=washingtonpost.com)  The IRS sys it will stop using facial recognition technology to authenticate people who create online accounts after the practice came under criticism from privacy advocates and lawmakers. (Susan Walsh/AP)  By [Drew Harwell](https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/drew-harwell/) The Internal Revenue Service has [abandoned its plan](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/01/27/irs-face-scans/) to require millions of Americans to submit to a facial recognition check through a private company to access their online tax accounts following a [firestorm of criticism](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/07/irs-gsa-id-facial-recogntion/) from privacy advocates and members of Congress. [Get concise answers to your questions. Try Ask The Post AI.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/ask-the-post-ai/) * * * 597**Comments**  Newsletter As news breaks  Tech News Alerts Breaking news email alerts on technology and the tech industry. 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