HMRC has confirmed it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor social media posts as part of criminal investigations into suspected tax cheats.
It said the tech would not replace "human decision-making" and was subject to legal oversight.
"Greater use of AI will enable our staff to spend less time on admin and more time helping taxpayers, as well as better target fraud and evasion to bring in more money for public services," it said in a statement.
However, experts warn there are risks with using AI in this way.
"AI could help HMRC to streamline its processes and make it easier to compile all the available information about an individual," accountancy firm RSM UK partner Chris Etherington told the BBC.
