US taxpayers signing up for an online account now have the option of a live interview to verify their identity instead of using ID.me facial recognition.
Following discomfort surrounding their collection of biometric data, the IRS has offered the interviews as a short term solution for this year’s filing system.
The agency previously required taxpayers to authenticate their identity by providing a selfie.
Following an $86 million contract with ID.me, the IRS used their software to analyse the photos provided.
Civil rights groups and members of Congress from both parties have criticised the use of facial recognition without advance warning.
Earlier this month, the IRS said it would stop using the ID.me facial recognition software, adding that it will “transition away from using a third-party service for facial recognition to help authenticate people creating new online accounts.”
