HMRC Admits Using AI to Monitor Social Media for Tax Evasion

HMRC Admits Using AI to Monitor Social Media for Tax Evasion
Above: A HM Revenue and Customs reminder to complete a self-assessment tax return. Image copyright: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

HMRC's modernization towards AI surveillance is necessary to catch tax cheats. The technology only targets criminal investigations with proper legal oversight, helping identify fraudsters who flaunt expensive lifestyles while dodging their fair share. Facing billions in unpaid taxes, these tools are essential for protecting public services and ensuring everyone pays what they owe.

Establishment-critical narrative

HMRC’s social media surveillance marks a worrying step toward potential state overreach. Diluting human judgement to token involvement invites blind trust in potentially flawed algorithms, paving the way for false accusations and intrusive investigations. This threatens privacy, erodes civil liberties, and could make self-censorship the norm.

Metaculus Prediction



The Controversies




© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.14.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.14.0