Is the IRS 'playing God'?

(Photo by Matthew G. Bisanz)

Digital footprints are a lot more like footprints on the moon than they are like footprints in the sand.  In other words, they hang around a long, long time.

Those who are looking for a little bit of fame and immortality might like that notion.  They might tend to let the world know about every expensive hobby, trip and purchase that they've

undertaken.  For those folks - and for the rest who might only publicize these now and then – it might be important to consider that the IRS could also be watching.

The unsettling subtitle of Richard Satran's U.S. News & World Report article "IRS tracks your digital footprint" is this:   The IRS has quietly upgraded its technology so tax collectors can track virtually everything people do online.  For some, this could be

the equivalent of the IRS delving into your "Dear Diary" entries.  For others, it could "simply" be a once-over of their personal budget.

Mother's advice, "Don't do anything that you wouldn't want broadcasted on national TV," somewhat applies here.  It's a "Brave New World" in more ways than one.  If the IRS isn't watching, the drones might be.  If those two don't catch you, the cameras on Main Street might.

There is much to be said for the ethics (or lack thereof) of these tracking techniques.  Nevertheless, it might also be wise to consider this:  An omniscient God would not need to rely upon Facebook in order to discover who's been naughty and who's been nice…

Resources

http://money.msn.com/credit-rating/irs-tracks-your-digital-footprint

Copyright April 28, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved