MIDTOWN, Manhattan — Protesters gathered outside Madison Square Garden on Friday to challenge the venue’s use of facial recognition technology, arguing that the practice raises significant concerns about privacy and how guests’ biometric information is collected and used.

Demonstrators are calling on lawmakers to intervene, saying legislation is needed to prevent entertainment venues and other businesses from deploying facial recognition without sufficient safeguards.

City Council member Shahana Hanif joined privacy advocates who want New York City to prohibit the widespread use of surveillance technology in settings including stores, restaurants and entertainment venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, both operated by James Dolan.

“For years, MSG owner James Dolan has doubled down on using facial recognition to scan anyone entering his venues and banning individuals that he dislikes,” said Michelle Dahl with Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “In one widely reported case, a mother was turned away from Radio City Music Hall, simply because she worked at a law firm involved in litigation against Dolan. She was there chaperoning her Girl Scout troop and posed no security threat.”

Hanif is backing legislation that would prohibit the collection of biometric information through facial recognition technology. A separate proposal would prevent landlords from using similar technology to identify or monitor residents.

The proposals have encountered opposition, particularly from small-business owners who view facial recognition and other surveillance tools as important security measures. Supporters of the technology argue that it can help deter crime, while police agencies frequently use surveillance footage when investigating serious offenses.

Critics of Madison Square Garden’s facial recognition practices, however, contend that the technology can be used selectively and is not always essential for security. They pointed to surveillance cameras reportedly being turned off during Taylor Swift’s wedding as an example.

“So clearly, this technology is not actually that necessary for security,” Dahl said.

Supporters of the legislation say the effort is building support at City Hall and argue that New Yorkers should not have to surrender biometric information simply to participate in everyday activities.

“You should not have to give up your sensitive biometric data to walk into the grocery store, to pick your kids up from school, or to go see an awesome concert at Madison Square Garden,” said Evan Greer with Fight For the Future.

Advocates also warn that storing biometric information creates another potential vulnerability: hackers could potentially gain access to sensitive data that cannot easily be changed once compromised.

Eyewitness News contacted MSG for a response. The venue replied, “People have been recognizing each other’s faces since the beginning of time, we just do it electronically.”