Zohran Mamdani Targets MSG Surveillance Over Biometric Tracking

Council member Shahana Hanif has introduced two bills aimed at curbing the use of facial recognition technology across the city. Mamdani described the legislation as a vital reaction to the aggressive tracking methods employed by Dolan’s venues. These tactics gained public scrutiny following reports that MSG maintains databases tagging visitors—including performers—with categories such as 'LGBTQIA' for reasons the company has not clarified.

Controversy surrounding these systems intensified in 2021 when a woman was ejected from Radio City Music Hall after facial recognition identified her as an attorney at a law firm currently litigating against the company, even though she was not personally involved in the case. While New York City law already mandates that businesses disclose the collection of biometric data, critics argue these measures remain insufficient.

Madison Square Garden spokesperson Mikyl Cordova rejected the allegations, calling the reporting inaccurate and stating the company is pursuing legal action. The venue owner has previously initiated litigation against Wired over its investigative series detailing the extent of the surveillance network.