Facial recognition tech is coming to a queer bar near you — if it’s not already there
Facial recognition technology is being deployed in bar and nightlife settings, including at venues that serve LGBTQ+ communities, raising concerns about surveillance in spaces historically used as private refuges. The trend appears to be spreading, with some venues already using the technology before patrons are aware of it.
Why this matters: Queer bars have always been one of the few places where people could exist without being watched or catalogued. Facial recognition changes that. It can identify you, log when you were there, and link you to a community you may not be out about everywhere in your life. That data does not stay in the bar. It can be subpoenaed, breached, or sold. People in states where LGBTQ+ rights are actively under legal pressure face real risk if their presence in these spaces gets recorded and ends up in the wrong hands. You should know if a venue is scanning your face before you walk through the door.
Who should care: Privacy officers · Cybersecurity · General readers · Policy
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