New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized Madison Square Garden’s surveillance practices, particularly owner James Dolan’s use of facial recognition. His remarks follow reports about how the company monitors visitors at its entertainment venues.
In a Wired interview Tuesday, Mamdani described such technologies as “indicative of much that is wrong in our country today.” He also highlighted proposed legislation to restrict biometric data collection in public places.
Madison Square Garden Faces Questions Over Facial Recognition
Mamdani’s comments followed a Wired investigation into security operations at Madison Square Garden and other Dolan-owned venues. The reporting described cameras and face-scanning systems used to identify and track visitors.
Wired also reported that internal records labeled certain individuals, including celebrity performers, as “LGBTQIA.” The purpose of those classifications remains unclear.
Dolan subsequently sued Wired over its reporting. Madison Square Garden spokesperson Mikyl Cordova disputed the findings, calling them inaccurate and saying the company was pursuing legal remedies.
The company’s facial recognition practices have attracted criticism before. In a previously reported incident, an attorney was denied entry to Radio City Music Hall after facial recognition identified her. Her law firm was involved in litigation against Dolan’s company, although she was not handling the case.
New York City Weighs Biometric Privacy Restrictions
City Council member Shahana Hanif has introduced legislation to limit biometric identification in public accommodations. Mamdani described the proposals as an important response to concerns about the technology.
One measure, Introduction 213, would restrict biometric recognition used to identify customers at covered establishments. It would also establish rules for handling personal biometric information.
Hanif has raised concerns about facial recognition’s potential impact on immigrant communities. Privacy advocates have also questioned how businesses collect, retain and use sensitive personal data.
Since July 2021, New York City has required certain businesses to disclose biometric data collection. The existing law, however, does not broadly prohibit facial recognition.
The proposed measures would go further by restricting identification practices at covered businesses. They remain under consideration, and no citywide ban has been enacted.
