NYC mayor criticizes Madison Square Garden owner over surveillance technology use

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly criticized the owner of Madison Square Garden for using surveillance technology, stating it reflects broader societal issues, according to TechCrunch.

Mamdani highlighted local legislative efforts led by City Council member Shahana Hanif to ban biometric data collection, including facial recognition, in public spaces across the city as a response to these concerns.

The criticism follows reports by Wired revealing that Madison Square Garden’s owner, James Dolan, uses surveillance cameras and face-scanning technology to monitor individuals at and around its venues. The reporting also noted the company maintains a database marking some visitors with unclear labels, such as "LGBTQIA."

Madison Square Garden has denied the Wired reports, calling them inaccurate and false, and has pursued legal action against the publication, according to TechCrunch.

Since 2021, New York City requires businesses to disclose biometric data collection practices, which is part of the ongoing conversation about privacy and surveillance technology in public venues.

The situation remains under scrutiny as legislative measures and public debate continue around the use of biometric surveillance in the city.