NYC council member pushes biometric consent bill targeting MSG and other venues
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif is advancing legislation that would require arenas, stadiums, and retail stores to obtain customer consent before collecting and storing biometric data. The bill has majority support on the 51-member council, with 28 co-sponsors, and has received backing from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, though it still must clear a technology committee before reaching a full council vote. Madison Square Garden Entertainment has defended its facial recognition use, drawing sharp criticism from Hanif, who called the company's public response ridiculous. Hanif said she remains open to negotiations with MSG over the bill's language, and noted concerns about potential civil rights and discrimination implications of the surveillance technology.
People have been recognizing each other's faces since the beginning of time – we just do it electronically
Why it matters
For service providers: Platforms or technology providers supplying biometric systems to arenas may need to adapt their products if the bill becomes law.
For brands: Venues and sponsors operating in New York City could face new compliance requirements and reputational risk tied to facial recognition technology.
For media: The legislation and MSG's legal disputes over data collection practices represent an ongoing story with broad implications for how live-event venues operate.
For athletes: Players and staff who pass through biometrically monitored venues could be subject to the same surveillance as general visitors.
Read the full story at Front Office Sports
Sources
- Front Office Sports · Ben Horney: ‘Ridiculous’: NYC Council Member Slams MSG on Facial Recognition Tech