IRS and Donor Privacy Threats

The IRS has a practice of collecting and storing information about major donors to nonprofit organizations, raising concerns about the constitutional implications of this data warehousing. Critics argue that the IRS lacks a justifiable reason for maintaining such records, especially since they do not use this information for enforcement. There is a historical context to consider, as cases like NAACP v. Alabama established the importance of donor privacy and associational rights in the face of potential government overreach. The chilling effect of this data collection can deter individuals from supporting causes they care about due to fear of exposure or backlash.