{"id":429329,"date":"2026-08-11T01:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T01:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/429329\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T01:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T01:35:16","slug":"famed-california-bars-forced-to-boot-draconian-surveillance-system-after-privacy-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/429329\/","title":{"rendered":"Famed California bars forced to boot draconian surveillance system after privacy backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two famed San Francisco gay bars<\/a> are abandoning a facial recognition technology<\/a> after furious locals launched a boycott over breach of privacy.<\/p>\n

Badlands and Toad Hall said they would stop using the AI-powered platform PatronScan, which is meant to verify IDs and ages and flag problem patrons across all venues, after learning about the campaign.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The technology from the AI-powered platform PatronScan that the bars used.<\/p>\n

\"Toad<\/p>\n

Toad Hall (pictured) is located in the Castro District in San Francisco, Calif. Google Maps<\/p>\n

“Effective immediately, we are pausing the use of PatronScan while we review our ID verification and security practices,” the post<\/a> read. “The safety of our guests and staff remains a priority, as do privacy and trust. Our security teams will continue to thoroughly check IDs manually during this time.”<\/p>\n

Badlands<\/a>, a mainstay in SF’s Castro District, reopened<\/a>\u00a0after the pandemic and\u00a0offers affordable cocktails and Top 40 hits. Meanwhile, Toad Hall<\/a> is a bar with much LGBTQIA+\u00a0history<\/a> behind it. Both came under scrutiny in June after the Gazetteer SF first reported<\/a> that they were using PatronScan’s Guard+ product.<\/p>\n

The move is seen as a win for privacy advocates. Fight for the Future \u2014 the advocacy group behind a\u00a0campaign<\/a>\u00a0that was joined by Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha and\u00a0Tom Morello<\/a>, The Coup’s Boots Riley and\u00a0dozens<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0other<\/a>\u00a0high-profile musicians \u2014 celebrated the local venues’ decision as a victory.<\/p>\n

\"Badlands<\/p>\n

Badlands in San Francisco used PatronScan to verify IDs and ages and flag problem patrons across all venues.<\/p>\n

“When we fight we WIN!” read a post<\/a> on Instagram from Fight for the Future. “And we’re going to keep fighting until dangerous AI surveillance tech is banned at as many bars and venues across the country as possible.”<\/p>\n

There are currently only three San Francisco bars\u00a0\u2014 Mix, Oracle Park and 1015 Folsom\u00a0\u2014 still using face-scanning technology, per\u00a0AI Action<\/a>‘s\u00a0Club 1984<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/p>\n

All this comes after Madison Square Garden’s\u00a0use of facial recognition technology<\/a>\u00a0to assemble an “exclusion list” led to lawsuits in 2022.<\/p>\n

Grocery Outlet stores in the Bay Area\u00a0also began using facial recognition software\u00a0to identify shoplifters in July, the San Francisco Chronicle reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Multiple consumer tech advocacy groups have raised issues <\/a>about facial recognition tech’s accuracy, especially when it comes to identifying Black and brown people.<\/p>\n

Plenty of music\u00a0festivals<\/a>\u00a0have also signed a campaign pledge against using the technology. But events like Outside Lands and the iHeartRadio Music Festival have decided not to participate.<\/p>\n

Evan Greer, director of Fight for the Future and a transgender musician, said in a statement that the use of the AI software is especially problematic for more vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n

“Queer and trans people want to be able to dance and gather and party without fear,” Greer said in a press\u00a0release<\/a>. “We won’t stop until gay bars across the country commit to never using this type of invasive and discriminatory surveillance tech at the door.”<\/p>\n

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