Attorney General James Seeks Information from Madison Square Garden Regarding Use of Facial Recognition Technology to Deny Entry to Venues

MSG’s Use of Facial Recognition Technology to
Deny Entry to Adversaries Could Violate Human Rights Law

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation (MSG Entertainment) requesting information from the company and its affiliates regarding its use of facial recognition technology to prohibit legitimate ticketholders from entering their venues. MSG Entertainment owns and operates several large venues in New York, including Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, and the company has reportedly used facial recognition technology to identify and deny entry to all lawyers who are affiliated with law firms representing clients in pending litigation related to MSG Entertainment. In the letter, Attorney General James raises the concern that preventing individuals from accessing their venues because of ongoing litigation against the company could violate local, state, and federal human rights laws, including laws prohibiting retaliation. The letter also questions whether the facial recognition software used by MSG Entertainment is reliable and what safeguards are in place to avoid bias and discrimination.

“MSG Entertainment cannot fight their legal battles in their own arenas,” said Attorney General James. “Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall are world-renowned venues and should treat all patrons who purchased tickets with fairness and respect. Anyone with a ticket to an event should not be concerned that they may be wrongfully denied entry based on their appearance, and we’re urging MSG Entertainment to reverse this policy.”

MSG Entertainment owns and operates several venues in New York, including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Hulu Theater, and the Beacon Theatre. In recent weeks, reports have alleged that MSG Entertainment has used its facial recognition software to identify all lawyers from firms representing clients engaged in litigation against the company and forbid them from entering their venues. This policy is estimated to impact all lawyers at more than 90 law firms. In the letter sent today, Attorney General James warns that preventing people from entering their venues may violate New York’s civil and human rights laws and may dissuade lawyers from taking on legitimate cases against the company, including sexual harassment or employment discrimination claims, in order to avoid the alleged ban and continue attending events at MSG Entertainment venues.

Attorney General James is calling on MSG Entertainment to report to her office the steps the company is taking to comply with New York’s civil and human rights laws and ensure that its facial recognition technology will not lead to discrimination.

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Kyle S. Rapiñan of the Civil Rights Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Travis England. The Civil Rights Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

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Headlines for March 9, 2026

Toxic Black Raindrops Fall on Tehran Following U.S.-Israeli Attacks...

Trump has massively misjudged the American people — and it could be his downfall



U.S. missiles and bombs have so far caused at least 1,168 civilian deaths in Iran, including 188 schoolchildren. Seven American service members have perished.

A direct line connects this violence with the U.S. government’s violence over the past year against people in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other American cities. And with the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Behind it all is the vicious bully now occupying the Oval Office.

If you’re feeling angry, you’re not alone. I see it in your comments. I’m struck by how you are fighting back against this tyranny, nonetheless.

Sue Fraser Frankewicz, age 80, suggests we connect with the nearest Indivisible group “and get outside — march or witness or go to meetings with similarly disgusted smart people like yourself. Get yourself a button-maker and then find some great sentiments and make them into buttons and give them away.” She says such activities give her energy and hope and she’s “not giving up the fight!”

Martin asks us to “help vulnerable and needy people in our communities, who are now more vulnerable than ever.”

Jonni says she finds it useful to “focus on the consequences for the midterms” and know that “every evil thing this administration does has the silver lining of creating a blue wave. Each of us can make a contribution to end this regime.”

Klare K wants so many of us to march and protest on March 28 — the next No Kings Day — that “Trump’s head will explode.”

Jane, who describes herself as disabled and practically housebound, says she “keeps calling, texting, and emailing” her congressional representatives. And although they don’t respond, she “won’t give up on this battle to save our country.”

Others of you are protecting immigrants in your community from ICE.

You’re helping people get to polling places in special elections.

You’re organizing and mobilizing the grassroots of America.

I take great comfort from your courage and tenacity — turning your anger into positive action, fighting against the loathsome sociopath and his dreadful regime.

I’ll continue to support you in every way I can.

We will get through these dark days. In fact, I believe we’ll be stronger for having gone through them. We’ll have a sharper sense of what we value, and why.

Hopefully, we’ll also understand how we arrived at this cataclysm, how America got so badly off track that we allowed a dictator to take over this nation. And we’ll make necessary changes so it never happens again.

Polls show most Americans are now firmly against Trump. Most of us don’t want this war. Most of us reject his brutal immigration dragnet. Most of us are against his usurping powers that belong to Congress and the people. Most of us are appalled by his corruption, self-dealing, and brazen ignorance.

We will continue to resist, with ever more resolve. We will continue to protest and march, in even greater numbers. Our voices will grow even louder.

And when the darkness lifts, we will rebuild.

We’ll get big money out of our politics. We’ll tax concentrated wealth and use the proceeds for affordable child care, elder care, and universal health care. We’ll have a living wage. We’ll bust up monopolies and strengthen unions. We’ll seek to restore America’s moral authority in the world.

We will honor those who stood up to this tyranny. And we will hold accountable those who have enabled it, who have broken the law, trod on our Constitution, and made themselves rich while causing needless suffering.

In all these ways, my friends, we will prevail.

  • Robert Reich is an emeritus professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/. His new memoir, Coming Up Short, can be found wherever you buy books. You can also support local bookstores nationally by ordering the book at bookshop.org