IRS collecting tax payer information from Facebook and Twitter

by BTM

Posted: 11 years ago 6 replies

OFF TOPIC

IRS collecting tax payer information from Facebook and Twitter - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

WASHINGTON -
You have until April 15th to file a return - and the IRS will be collecting a lot more than just taxes this year.

According to several reports, the agency will also be collecting personal information from sites like Facebook and Twitter.

It says the effort is to catch people trying to beat the system, but some say it goes too far.

Attorney Kristen Mathews warns to be careful with what you say on social media platforms.

She has concerns the government is pushing the limits of what has historically been considered private.

"There are laws that regulate the government's ability to get a hold of things like credit card transaction history. But those laws have become more permissive in the last several years, particularly after 9-11, and so some might say those laws are no longer in line with the average expectation of privacy," says Mathews.

The government has said it would only check a Facebook page or twitter account if there is already red flag in a tax form.

There's also a video on the site.
IRS collecting tax payer information from Facebook and Twitter - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

LarryC 11 years ago

I had to laugh at the guy who advised keeping your settings private. Sure, that will stop the government from spying on you.
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Josh Monroe 11 years ago

It's funny actually, I was on FaceBook the other day and saw someone bragging about how much money they had in the duffel bag (tax free money)...They even gave the exact numeric figure.

IRS could be on to a GOLDMINE here...
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HeySal 11 years ago

People are stupid. Why would they bother to hide money - then tell the whole freaking world that they did so? *duh, drool*
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seasoned 11 years ago

Yeah! As far as keeping info private? Reading stuff from the screen is SLOW, TEDIOUS, EXPENSIVE! It would cost the IRS and facebook TOO MUCH! It can be tracked, changed, broken, etc..... Facebook would EASILY shut them down! It is also ILLEGAL! It is called a DoS attack!

The solution? A DIRECT feed! FAST, EASY, CHEAP! In the time it would take to read ONE user fro the screen, they could read THOUSANDS directly! It CAN'T be tracked, changed, broken, etc..... Facebook could easily be subpoenaed into it.

The CATCH? A direct feed would NOT be affected by settings like private! And facebook would be FORBIDDEN to implement such a thing.

Steve
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seasoned

11 years ago

This whole thing is getting LUDICROUS! I watched a TV show yesterday, and the "doctors" were LAUGHING at the idea that in the "21st cyber century" ANYTHING is private is LUDICROUS, and said hospitals should have a sign outside saying "Privacy is DEAD, DEAL WITH IT". REALLY!?!?!? I couldn't get my INR because my DOCTOR had to approve it! Others couldn't get my records, unless I signed a release due to HIPPA. I worked at places where I was FORBIDDEN to release info! Where I am NOW, I was asked to release 2 sets of info! Another person was asked to release other info. We *****REFUSED*****! HEY, THANK ME! Some of that info might have been about YOU!

Is privacy dead? NOPE! MORALITY IS! Some people don't care AT ALL!!!!!!!!

I mean a company with THOUSANDS of big customers asks a major institution to release MILLIONS of records that each have different customer info on them? If I were king, that request ALONE would be met with SEVERE sanctions! I mean they obviously DON'T CARE!

Steve