Madison Square Garden facial recognition use sparks privacy rally

Privacy advocates and musicians held a rally outside Madison Square Garden on Friday to protest the venue's use of facial recognition technology. Demonstrators and lawmakers are calling for legislation to ban the collection of biometric data in public spaces, including stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

New York City Council member Shahana Hanif is sponsoring a bill to prohibit such technology, noting that the practice has been used to target individuals. Critics, including the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, allege that MSG owner James Dolan has used the technology to ban people involved in litigation against him. Reports indicate the venue maintains databases that track specific fans and assign risk scores to celebrities and VIPs, sometimes including sensitive personal details.

While the bill has gained momentum with over half of the City Council endorsing it, the proposal faces opposition from some small businesses that view surveillance as a necessary tool for crime prevention and security.