New York City Lawmakers Push to ‘Ban the Scan’ at MSG

The push to ban facial-recognition technology at Madison Square Garden and other public venues in New York City is a response to growing concerns over surveillance and data collection. City Council member Shahana Hanif has proposed a bill that would prohibit public venues from using biometric recognition tech such as Madison Square Garden's facial-recognition systems. The bill has gained 27 endorsements, more than half of the City Council, and is in talks with speaker Julie Menin about advancing the legislation. The issue is not new, but many may not understand the extent of the surveillance that they're exposed to simply by attending a Knicks game or a concert at Madison Square Garden or one of its associated venues. The fact that Dolan, who has a long relationship with President Donald Trump, is the one collecting the data worries Hanif even more. The proposed bill aims to prevent public venues from using biometric recognition tech such as Madison Square Garden's facial-recognition systems. The bill has gained 27 endorsements, more than half of the City Council, and is in talks with speaker Julie Menin about advancing the legislation. The issue is not new, but many may not understand the extent of the surveillance that they're exposed to simply by attending a Knicks game or a concert at Madison Square Garden or one of its associated venues. The fact that Dolan, who has a long relationship with President Donald Trump, is the one collecting the data worries Hanif even more. The proposed bill aims to prevent public venues from using biometric recognition tech such as Madison Square Garden's facial-recognition systems. The bill has gained 27 endorsements, more than half of the City Council, and is in talks with speaker Julie Menin about advancing the legislation. The issue is not new, but many may not understand the extent of the surveillance that they're exposed to simply by attending a Knicks game or a concert at Madison Square Garden or one of its associated venues. The fact that Dolan, who has a long relationship with President Donald Trump, is the one collecting the data worries Hanif even more.

Madison Square Garden's Surveillance Machine Madison Square Garden is well-known for its biometric data collection practices. Fans who are critical of Dolan or the New York Knicks can end up on watch lists, their faces filed in MSG's extensive database. In one instance, MSG security tracked the movements of a specific fan at a Knicks game down to the minute, cataloging their movements, who they spoke with, when they ate, and where they sat. Hundreds of lawyers involved in disputes with Dolan or Dolan-owned properties have been banned from Dolan's venues, including a mother who was blocked from taking her daughter to a Radio City Music Hall show. In July, WIRED reported that MSG also maintains a database that assigns risk scores to around 400 celebrities and VIPs. Some of the dossiers also include the race and sexual orientation of those who attend the arena. MSG filed a defamation lawsuit against WIRED later that month.

The Extent of the Surveillance The fact that Dolan, who has a long relationship with President Donald Trump, is the one collecting the data worries Hanif even more. New Yorkers need to understand, right now, between AI and all these tools that are being sold to us as being for … our city's safety, are actually making us less safe, Hanif says. The proposed bill aims to prevent public venues from using biometric recognition tech such as Madison Square Garden's facial-recognition systems. The bill has gained 27 endorsements, more than half of the City Council, and is in talks with speaker Julie Menin about advancing the legislation.