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🚨Privacy Advocates Rally Outside MSG for Facial-Recognition Ban

Fans and Musicians Protest Biometric Surveillance

TL;DR

Privacy advocates rallied outside Madison Square Garden, pushing for a bill to ban biometric recognition tech in public venues. The rally highlights concerns over surveillance practices at MSG.

Privacy advocates and musicians gathered outside Madison Square Garden on Friday to protest against the use of facial-recognition technology in public spaces. The rally is part of efforts to push through legislation that would prohibit such technologies in New York City's public venues. Fans are particularly concerned about how MSG collects biometric data, including tracking movements and interactions down to minute details. This issue affects not just fans but also musicians and other event-goers who may face restrictions or surveillance based on their attendance history.

Privacy Advocates Rally Outside MSG for Facial-Recognition Ban — WIRED

Key Points

1

Hundreds of lawyers involved in disputes with MSG's CEO or Dolan-owned properties have been banned from attending events.

2

A mother was blocked from taking her daughter to a Radio City Music Hall show due to venue policies.

3

MSG maintains a database assigning risk scores to around 400 celebrities and VIPs, including personal data like race and sexual orientation.

4

The 'Ban the Scan' bill has 27 endorsements from city council members, more than half of the total membership.

5

An MSG spokesperson defended current practices, stating face recognition has been used since ancient times.

Why It Matters

Fans attending Madison Square Garden and other Dolan-owned venues are exposed to extensive biometric surveillance. The proposed 'Ban the Scan' bill could significantly reduce this invasive data collection practice.

facial-recognitionbiometricssurveillancelegislationpublic-venues

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

Fans attending Madison Square Garden and other Dolan-owned venues are exposed to extensive biometric surveillance. The proposed 'Ban the Scan' bill could significantly reduce this invasive data collection practice.

What happened?

Privacy advocates rallied outside Madison Square Garden, pushing for a bill to ban biometric recognition tech in public venues. The rally highlights concerns over surveillance practices at MSG.

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