Tax authority uses geolocation for audits

The Danish Tax Authority and Udbetaling Danmark are using geolocation data to verify if citizens are defrauding subsidies, debts, and benefits, reports Politiken based on access to public records. These entities likely purchase location data from telecommunications companies, websites, or apps rather than collecting it themselves. Although legally permitted to use data from publicly available sources, the Tax Ministry did not disclose to Politiken the sources of their geolocation data and its usage. Anja Møller Pedersen, a privacy researcher, believes that authorities may use the data lawfully, given controls on the scope and proportionality of the intrusion. Skattestyrelsen’s legal director, Katrine Ledam Rasmussen, maintains that they only release general information about their controls to prevent misuse by those aiming to evade taxes. Detailed purposes and data types for numerous AI systems remain undisclosed.