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French plan to scan social media for tax fraud causes alarm French plan to scan social media for tax fraud causes alarm
(32 minutes later)
France’s data protection watchdog has urged caution over plans to allow the authorities to monitor individuals’ social media posts and purchasing activity on websites such as eBay in order to identify those committing tax fraud. France’s data protection watchdog has urged caution over plans to allow authorities to monitor individuals’ social media posts and purchasing activity on websites such as eBay in order to identify those committing tax fraud.
The French parliament is to debate proposals for a three-year trial during which the tax office’s computer system will collect information on peoples’ lifestyles from social media accounts such as Instagram and Twitter, and also monitor their activity on sites such as Facebook, eBay and the French site, Le Bon Coin. The French parliament is to debate proposals for a three-year trial during which the tax office’s computer system would collect information on peoples’ lifestyles from social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and also monitor their activity on sites such as eBay and the French site Le Bon Coin.
HMRC faces legal fight for handing Britons' data to US tax officialsHMRC faces legal fight for handing Britons' data to US tax officials
The idea, first suggested by the public action and accounts minister, Gérald Darmanin, is aimed at identifying gaps between a person’s declared revenue and their lifestyle, as evidenced on their social media accounts.The idea, first suggested by the public action and accounts minister, Gérald Darmanin, is aimed at identifying gaps between a person’s declared revenue and their lifestyle, as evidenced on their social media accounts.
Darmanin told French TV last year that the tax office “will be able to see that if you have numerous pictures of yourself with a luxury car while you don’t have the means to own one, then maybe your cousin or your girlfriend has lent it to you, or maybe not”.Darmanin told French TV last year that the tax office “will be able to see that if you have numerous pictures of yourself with a luxury car while you don’t have the means to own one, then maybe your cousin or your girlfriend has lent it to you, or maybe not”.
It could also potentially detect customs fraud on online sales sites.It could also potentially detect customs fraud on online sales sites.
The system would also be able to check where you are mainly residing, for example if you have declared yourself domiciled abroad but are spending most of your time in France. The system would also be able to check where a person is mainly residing, for example if they have declared themselves domiciled abroad but are spending most of their time in France.
The data watchdog La Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), has given written advice that the government must show “a great deal of prudence” over the plan, which raised “unprecedented questions over personal data protection”. It said the plans could amount to the mass collection of data on a “significant scale”, with information being automatically mined rather than gathered in specific, suspicious cases. The data watchdog la Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) has given written advice that the government must show “a great deal of prudence” over the plan, which raised “unprecedented questions over personal data protection”. It said the plans could amount to the mass collection of data on a “significant scale”, with information being automatically mined rather than gathered for specific, suspicious cases.
The watchdog warned such a massive collection of data could “significantly change individuals’ behaviour online, where they might not feel able to express themselves freely on the platforms in question”. The watchdog said such a massive collection of data could “significantly change individuals’ behaviour online, where they might not feel able to express themselves freely on the platforms in question”.
The French government has suggested it would be only a trial run over three years. The French government has suggested the trial would only run for three years.
HMRC already has a similar computer system allowing it to collect and use information from social media to identify potential tax fraud.HMRC already has a similar computer system allowing it to collect and use information from social media to identify potential tax fraud.
PrivacyPrivacy
FranceFrance
Data protectionData protection
Social mediaSocial media
EuropeEurope
Tax and spendingTax and spending
InternetInternet
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