Tax season is quickly approaching. If you’re anything like me, you’re already annoyed by the mere prospect of having to interact with the International Revenue Service and all its bureaucracy. This year though, we have the added bonus of the IRS requiring you to scan your face to file taxes online. Not only is this an annoying, extra step, but it immediately begs the question: Why the hell is the IRS buying into surveillance software?
On Wednesday, security blogger Brian Krebs spotted an update on the IRS website telling people to create accounts with a Virginia-based company called ID.me. Per the IRS, without this account, “You won’t be able to log in with your existing IRS username and password starting in summer 2022.”