New York Attorney General Letitia James Investigates MSG Entertainment’s Use of Facial Recognition Technology to Bar Lawyers Suing the Company

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation (MSG) has recently come under fire for using facial recognition technology to bar lawyers suing the company from attending events at its venues. In response, New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to MSG Entertainment on Wednesday, requesting information regarding its use of facial recognition technology and noting that the ban on individuals entering the buildings, as well as MSG’s use of facial recognition technology to enforce it, may violate civil rights laws.

In response to the letter, MSG Executive Chairman and CEO James Dolan spoke to Fox 5 on Thursday, asserting that Madison Square Garden is a private company and therefore entitled to determine who is allowed to enter its venues for events. Dolan also noted that the company is taking the necessary steps to ensure that its use of facial recognition technology is compliant with the law.

The use of facial recognition technology by MSG has been met with criticism from civil rights advocates, who argue that the ban on lawyers suing the company could discourage attorneys from taking on cases, including sexual harassment or job discrimination claims.

MSG has yet to respond to the Attorney General’s letter, and it remains to be seen what action will be taken in response to the company’s use of facial recognition technology. In the meantime, the Attorney General’s office is continuing to investigate the matter to ensure that the company is in compliance with civil rights laws.