NEW YORK — Facial recognition expertise at leisure venues and different companies was below overview Friday at a New York City Council listening to. 

In 2021, in response to the rising variety of corporations using the expertise, New York City handed legal guidelines requiring companies that use facial recognition to tell prospects that it is in use.

City leaders could also be making an attempt to take issues additional after Madison Square Garden got here below fireplace for its use of facial recognition. 

“As more entities gain access to facial recognition technology, it increases the potential for improper use,” stated Council Member Marjorie Velázquez, who chairs the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. 

At the listening to, Velázquez known as on consultants within the subject to debate the dangers of facial recognition expertise. 

“Facial recognition relies on large scores of variable personal data, making the systems a potential target of security breaches, information leaks,” stated Velázquez. 

MSG and Radio City Music Hall have taken warmth for utilizing facial recognition. James Dolan, chairman of the venues, admitted to utilizing the expertise to ban legal professionals working for corporations suing his firm. 

Some metropolis leaders consider that crossed a line. 

“We must do what we can as a city to protect New Yorkers’ privacy and information and ensure that these products are not used in ways that harm consumers and workers,” stated Velázquez. 

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams doubled down on that. 

“There’s a point where private and public really come in connection and we can’t allow it just run amok, and government has to step in,” stated Williams. 

Attorney Samuel Davis, a founding companion on the regulation agency whose worker, Kelly Conlon, was escorted out of Radio City late final yr for merely being related to the agency throughout litigation with MSG, stated he is preventing for transparency. 

“If you’re gonna allow facial recognition, let people know about it. Give people a fair shot,” Davis stated on the listening to. 

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who just lately stated facial recognition expertise could violate anti-bias laws, claimed Dolan’s properties use it to restrict virtually 100 regulation corporations from getting into. 

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal told CBS2 he launched a invoice that may tweak civil rights legal guidelines to forestall venues from banning individuals who have a sound ticket. 

“Essentially, when you walk into Madison Square Garden, you are immediately treated as a suspect,” stated Hoylman-Sigal. 

“The facial recognition technology system does not retain images of individuals, with the exception of those who were previously advised they are prohibited from entering our venues, or whose previous misconduct in our venues has identified them as a security risk. We utilize facial recognition technology in compliance with all applicable laws,” an MSG Entertainment spokesperson advised CBS2. 

Dolan, showing on WFAN a number of weeks in the past, stated his firm doesn’t use facial recognition expertise towards followers on the Garden except they develop into “confrontational with other fans, confrontational with the staff, confrontational with the, excuse me, with the ownership.”  

Most council members and members of the general public on the listening to agreed the expertise may very well be harmful within the unsuitable arms. 

Defenders of facial recognition expertise, like Jake Parker of the nonprofit Security Industries Association, stated it is about guidelines and rules versus the expertise itself. 

“If the technology is used in a way where you’re flagging certain individuals for some kind of further action, particularly if there could be negative consequences, then that needs to be subject to robust policies and procedures,” stated Parker. 

There have been no indicators of any MSG officers, together with Dolan, at Friday’s listening to. They knew it was taking place and appeared to make a aware resolution to not present up or face questioning. 

“I had a conversation with a representative last weekend and they assured me that someone would be showing up today,” stated Velázquez. “It’s a disgrace. I’m disappointed.” 

“Today’s City Council oversight hearing was intended to generally address the use of facial recognition technology by businesses in New York City. MSG Entertainment’s views on the use of facial recognition technology were represented at the hearing, in both written and oral testimony, by organizations such as the Security Industry Association, Tech:NYC, and BIO-key International, that share our belief that it’s a useful and widely used tool that enables businesses to provide a safe and secure environment,” a spokesperson stated.