> there are laws that prohibit the US government from engaging in similar shenangigans.
If the laws you’re alluding to are steadfast, provide true equal protection and are perfectly enforced I could see greater reliance on government software tools.
However, history is littered with government agencies failing to protect people. Not to pick on the FBI here but the organization’s own J. Edward Hoover wasn’t the most privacy focused person. The group’s HQ is still named after this person.
Perhaps other organizations could be relied on more. People have wanted free tax filing software for a long time.
However, even the IRS has been shown vulnerable to take actions based on pressure from political forces.
If the laws you’re alluding to are steadfast, provide true equal protection and are perfectly enforced I could see greater reliance on government software tools.
However, history is littered with government agencies failing to protect people. Not to pick on the FBI here but the organization’s own J. Edward Hoover wasn’t the most privacy focused person. The group’s HQ is still named after this person.
Perhaps other organizations could be relied on more. People have wanted free tax filing software for a long time.
However, even the IRS has been shown vulnerable to take actions based on pressure from political forces.