IRS Retreats From Facial Recognition to Verify Taxpayers' Identities

WASHINGTON--The Internal Revenue Service is scrapping its use of a private facial-recognition system to authenticate taxpayers' identities for online accounts, the agency said Monday after criticism from lawmakers in both parties over privacy concerns. "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," IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said in a statement on Monday.