Written by John Anderson.
The IRS is diving headfirst into the tech world, gearing up to roll out artificial intelligence (AI) “police bots” that are designed to keep a closer watch on parts of the U.S. tax code that apparently concern MAGA groups and Trump supporters. During a recent event in Washington, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel shared some insights into the agency’s plan to harness AI to boost its ability to sniff out potential tax dodgers. “Right now, I believe that there are AI solutions that we have not yet leveraged that exist today that can help with some of these basic questions to the benefit of taxpayers,” Werfel noted, highlighting the promise and challenges of using AI in tax enforcement.
Werfel drew an interesting comparison between the IRS’s tactics and a chess game, pointing out the complexities involved in monitoring financial transactions across various channels. He candidly noted that these activities could be entirely above board, or sometimes not, stressing the importance of AI in leveling up the IRS’s capabilities to make them a stronger player in the challenging arena of tax enforcement, albeit with humans still making the final calls.
Weighing Tech Advances Against Ethical Concerns
However, this leap towards high-tech tools has not gone without criticism. Jake Denton from The Heritage Foundation’s Tech Policy Center has raised some eyebrows about how the IRS might use these powerful tools. “This technology really gives the IRS a shield to bulk flag anyone it finds problematic, which is very troubling,” Denton cautioned. He’s wary that the IRS could misuse the ostensibly infallible AI model to dodge accountability and obscure the criteria used to target taxpayers.
This isn’t just about upgrading technology; it’s a significant shift that could, if not checked, lead to abuses of power similar to past incidents where the IRS unfairly targeted conservative groups. These past actions serve as a stark reminder of what can happen when oversight is lacking in government agencies wielding powerful tech.
A Call for Transparent Tech Use
Given the IRS’s history of political bias, which has been acknowledged through settlements and public apologies, it’s critical that the rollout of any new AI technology is transparent and justifiable. Denton advocates for an open-source, understandable AI system that offers as much transparency as possible to prevent misuse and ensure that those affected can seek accountability. “We don’t want to block the IRS from acquiring AI,” he stated, pushing for clarity and upfront guidelines before such technology becomes an integral part of IRS operations.
The push for an open-source AI system isn’t merely about curbing misuse—it’s crucial for maintaining the trust of the public in a powerful federal agency. As we forge ahead, it’s vital that technological progress does not come at the expense of ethical integrity or legal fairness in tax enforcement.
Our Take
The IRS’s strategy to deploy AI for targeting specific political affiliations raises serious ethical and legal red flags that resonate with core conservative values of fairness and transparency. AI should indeed boost efficiency but not at the cost of fairness or transparency. It’s crucial to establish safeguards to avert any repetition of past misdemeanors, ensuring all procedures are both legal and ethically sound.
As proponents of impartial governance, we believe that government technology should serve all citizens equally, regardless of political stance. The potential for AI to become a tool for political discrimination is not only concerning but also undermines the principles of our democracy. Thus, the IRS must handle these powerful new tools with utmost responsibility, ensuring they are used to uphold laws justly and impartially, without any bias toward any group or individual.
