The ATO has adopted voiceprint technology as an option for identification of callers. Members of the community who use a telephone to interact with the ATO can elect to have a short “voiceprint” recorded. This will be used to verify the person’s identity for subsequent calls.
Second Commissioner Geoff Leeper disclosed that “In the last fortnight, over 30,000 Australians have already chosen to use our voice verification technology.” The ATO believes that the “voiceprint” identification will allow it to provide a more efficient and secure service. This is in the context of a call rate of some 8 million per year.
The ATO’s “voiceprint” technology creates a digital representation of the sound, rhythm, physical characteristics and patterns of speech.
It is expected that the technology will not only limit the scope for identity theft, but will just as importantly, “speed up the authentication process and cut the time” that people who call regularly need to spend on the phone. This will be welcomed by Tax Agents (preparers) who often complain about the delays involved in the “interrogation” process previously used for identification.
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