HMRC’s voice recognition ID service is illegal and data collected from its use must be deleted says the Information Commissioner’s Office
The ICO was asked to probe the tax authority by Big Brother Watch.
Investigators looked at the voice authentication process for customer verification on some of HMRC’s helplines, which were introduced in January 2017.
They concluded that HMRC failed to give customers sufficient information about how their biometric data would be processed.
Withhold consent
HMRC also failed to give them the chance to give or withhold consent, breaching the General Data Protection Regulation.
A notice was issued to HMRC in April compelling HMRC to delete all biometric data held under the system, for which it does not have explicit consent.
Steve Wood, ICO deputy commissioner, says: “Our investigation exposed a significant breach of data protection law – HMRC appears to have given little or no consideration to it with regard to its voice ID service.
“Innovative digital services help make our lives easier but it must not be at the expense of people’s fundamental right to privacy.
“We welcome HMRC’s prompt action to begin deleting personal data that it obtained unlawfully.”