A concertgoer was banned for life from Madison Square Garden (MSG) properties, including Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre, due to a T-shirt design he created in 2017. The incident has raised concerns over the use of facial recognition technology and surveillance at public venues.

Frank Miller, a graphic designer from Seattle, was attending a concert at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate his parents' wedding anniversary. However, before he could enter the venue, he was pulled aside by security and informed that he was banned from all MSG properties. Miller was given a trespass notice, stating that he would be arrested if he ever showed up on MSG property again.

Miller believes that he was identified through MSG's facial recognition system, which has been controversially used at its venues. The system was previously used to deny entry to a New Jersey attorney who was on an "attorney exclusion list" due to her firm's involvement in lawsuits against MSG.

The T-shirt design in question featured the phrase "Ban Dolan," a reference to a 2017 incident in which Charles Oakley, a former New York Knicks player, was forcibly removed from his seat near Knicks owner and MSG CEO James Dolan. Miller's friend wore the shirt to a Knicks game in 2021 and was kicked out and banned from future events. Miller suspects that MSG connected him to the incident through social media posts, despite not attending the game himself.

MSG Entertainment declined to comment on the incident, but Miller's experience highlights the concerns over the use of facial recognition technology in public spaces. Miller notes that the technology is often framed as a safety measure, but in reality, it can be used as a deterrent and fear tactic to control people's behavior.

The incident also raises questions about the extent of surveillance at public venues and the potential for abuse of power. Miller's experience is a cautionary tale about the importance of being aware of the data that is being collected about us and how it can be used against us.

As facial recognition technology becomes increasingly prevalent, incidents like Miller's will likely become more common. It is essential for individuals to be aware of their rights and to push back against the misuse of surveillance technology.

In the meantime, Miller's experience has left a sour taste, not just for him but also for his parents, who were celebrating their anniversary. "I just found it comical, until I was told that my mom was crying [in the lobby]," Miller says. "I was like, 'Oh man, I ruined their anniversary with my shit talk on the internet. Memes are powerful, and so is the surveillance state."