Mets used facial recognition to profit on unsuspecting Citi Field fans: suit
By Dean Balsamini,
2 days ago
Here’s one New Yorker who is not jumping on the Mets’ bandwagon.
The team uses facial recognition technology to collect information on unsuspecting Citi Field patrons, claims Chris Dowling in a new class-action lawsuit.
Citi Field cameras “at the main fan entrance” collect “facial identifiers” from patrons as they enter the stadium, and the Mets have third parties processing the data to find people on the team’s “black list,” Dowling alleged in a Brooklyn Federal Court filing.
New Yorker Chris Dowling, the lead plaintiff in the class-action suit, says the Mets collected his biometric information during the “at least four” games he attended at Citi Field in the past year, according to the filing. Ray Stubblebine/UPI/Shutterstock
While the Mets have publicly acknowledged they use facial recognition for security purposes, Dowling claims they use the information gleaned “for value or profit,” which violates the New York City Biometrics Law, the suit says.
Mets fans on Reddit “have detailed the use of facial recognition by Citi Field which has been weaponized against them,” according to the lawsuit.
Cameras are placed all around at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post The Mets have publicly acknowledged they use facial recognition for security purposes. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“I realized it when they made me take off my hat to walk through the metal detector,” said the poster. “I was confused [because] the detector would pick up anything I am trying to hide in my hat! After the third time, I realized it was because my hat was hiding my face and blocking their scan. I do not like it one bit.”
In May, a federal judge tossed a data-privacy lawsuit accusing Madison Square Garden of illegally using facial recognition technology for profit and to scare off the arena’s legal opponents. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
The facial recognition tech is a breach of privacy, critics charge, and similar to Madison Square Garden’s controversial facial recognition tech.
The Mets “increase their profit margin when they choose to use facial recognition as opposed to using manual labor to adequately protect its 400,000 square foot premises,” the suit argues.
“It’s a slippery slope,” Nate Wessler, a facial recognition litigation expert with the American Civil Liberties Union told The Post. nyu.edu
In August, a small number of protesters gathered at Citi Field to crusade against the Mets’ use of facial recognition technology.
In August, a small number of protesters gathered at Citi Field to crusade against the Mets’ use of facial recognition technology. SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“It’s a slippery slope,” Nate Wessler, a facial recognition litigation expert with the American Civil Liberties Union told The Post. “When people buy a ticket to a ball game, they expect to turn over money in exchange for a seat. They don’t expect that they’re also giving the company permission to track them based on the unique features of our faces.”
Neither Dowling not his attorney would discuss the civil action. The Mets declined comment.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0