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Let’s stop Big Brother

Most Americans can understand why law enforcement and national security officials want access to information about us – though there are serious, in some cases overriding, invasion of privacy concerns.

But the Internal Revenue Service? No way. That clearly crosses an unacceptable line.

Several federal agencies awarded contracts to private companies in efforts to obtain and use information from vehicle license plates, it has been revealed. Fortunately, it appears most, if not all, of that work has ceased.

Among agencies involved in the project were the Air Force and the Department of Homeland Security. But the IRS also sought access to license plate information nationwide.

IRS officials refused to tell a reporter how the data would be used.

At about the same time the IRS was looking into use of license plate databases, it was revealed the agency was being used to harass some organizations with politically conservative agendas. The thought that rogue bureaucrats with access to tax information also might be able to track our driving habits is, to put it mildly, disturbing.

Uncle Sam’s conversion into Big Brother needs to stop. Right now. Members of Congress should demand it – and ensure it happens.

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