S.T.O.P. Condemns MSG Use of Facial Rec. To Bar Transgender Woman From Knicks Games

S.T.O.P. condemns MSG Entertainment’s alleged use of facial recognition to bar a transgender woman from Knicks games.

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns MSG Entertainment Use of Facial Rec. To Bar Transgender Woman From Knicks Games (New York, NY, 9/30/2025) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns MSG Entertainment’s alleged use of facial recognition to bar a transgender woman from Knicks games. According to reporting by The New York Times, former MSG Entertainment Vice President, Donald Ingrasselino, filed a lawsuit last Thursday against MSG for discrimination based on his disabilities, also alleging MSG ordered he conduct illegal surveillance of MSG employees and fans. The lawsuit alleges MSG used facial recognition to target a transgender woman named Mia executives wanted to keep “away” from Knicks players. The lawsuit further alleges that MSG deployed facial recognition to target perceived critics of CEO James Dolan and even attendees who simply used foul language. SEE: The New York Times - Lawsuit accuses Madison Square Garden of discrimination, illegal fan surveillance https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6666732/2025/09/26/madison-square-garden-lawsuit-discrimination-security-misconduct/ “MSG Entertainment’s use of facial recognition to target a transgender Knicks fan is disgusting, and demonstrates precisely why this technology has no place in New York venues,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Communications Director Will Owen. “CEO James Dolan also continues to double down on facial recognition to target supposed critics of his corporation and teams, and even frustrated fans. You should be able to yell a four-letter word when your team is losing without worrying you’ll be tracked indefinitely by the team’s owner. It’s not just pathetic, it’s not just petty, it’s also now blatantly transphobic. The allegations in this lawsuit show just how far MSG will go in abusing facial recognition, and the New York City Council must ban the scan to make it stop.” SEE: Gothamist - MSG's use of facial recognition tech on ticketholders may violate human rights laws, NY AG warns https://gothamist.com/news/msgs-use-of-facial-recognition-tech-on-ticketholders-may-violate-human-rights-laws-ny-ag-warns Last month, S.T.O.P. condemned the false arrest of Trevis Williams by the NYPD after a wrongful facial recognition match. The civil rights group is a lead advocate in the “Ban The Scan” legislative campaign to end facial recognition by police and government agencies, landlords, public accommodations, and schools in New York City and State. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD False Facial Recognition Arrest Of Innocent Black Man https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2025/8/27/stop-condemns-nypd-false-facial-recognition-arrest-of-innocent-black-man Ban The Scan https://www.banthescan.org/ The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   -- END -- Copyright © 2025 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.