Mayor of New York Metropolis Zohran Mamdani has criticized the proprietor of Madison Sq. Backyard, one of many metropolis’s largest leisure venues, arguing that the corporate’s surveillance expertise shouldn’t be allowed.
Mamdani advised Wired in an interview on Tuesday that surveillance applied sciences are “indicative of a lot that’s incorrect in our nation at the moment.” He added that Metropolis Council member Shahana Hanif launched two items of native laws aimed toward banning the gathering of biometric knowledge, reminiscent of utilizing facial recognition, in public locations throughout the town. Mamdani stated that the draft laws is “an vital response to this type of a difficulty.”
The feedback come after a stream of reporting from Wired detailing how Madison Sq. Backyard’s proprietor James Dolan depends on surveillance cameras and face-scanning expertise to trace individuals throughout and out of doors of its venues.
In one report, Wired revealed that Dolan’s firm retains a database that, amongst different issues, marks some guests, together with movie star performers, as “LGBTQIA,” for causes which are unclear. Dolan subsequently sued Wired over its reporting.
In 2021, MSG made headlines after a lady was banned from Radio Metropolis, one other Dolan-owned venue, after being acknowledged by facial recognition methods as an lawyer at a legislation agency who was suing Dolan’s firm however was not concerned within the litigation.
When reached by TechCrunch, Madison Sq. Backyard spokesperson Mikyl Cordova stated: “Wired’s reporting is inaccurate and false. MSG is pursuing authorized treatments,” with out offering proof for its declare.
Since 2021, New York Metropolis has required companies to reveal when they’re amassing biometric knowledge from guests.
Up to date with remark from MSG.
