IRS abandons facial recognition plan after firestorm of criticism

The controversy has highlighted a key tension within the U.S. government over facial recognition. Federal agencies are increasingly using the technology for security and investigative purposes, and 10 of them — the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Interior, Justice, State, Treasury and Veterans Affairs — told government auditors last year that they intended to expand their face-scanning capabilities in the coming months.