On Wednesday, a large crowd gathered outside Citi Field in Queens, New York, for the game between the Mets and the Orioles. Amid the excitement, a small group of protesters was distributing flyers to raise awareness about a recent initiative by Major League Baseball (MLB) that has sparked controversy: the implementation of facial recognition technology for fans.
Proponents of facial recognition argue that this technology enhances efficiency by reducing wait times at stadium entrances, thus saving time and associated costs. However, critics express concerns that these surveillance tools are not completely reliable, potentially provide law enforcement with personal information about fans, and contribute to a creeping normalization of surveillance practices.
The MLB’s facial recognition program, known as Go-Ahead Entry, allows fans who participate to access a shorter security line. To enroll, fans need to download the MLB Ballpark app, take a selfie, and have their image verified at a camera kiosk located at the stadium entrance. Currently, six MLB teams are participating in this initiative: the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals.
Additionally, some teams, including the Mets, have initiated their own facial recognition systems for expedited entry. The Mets have been collaborating with the facial recognition company Wicket for their Mets Entry Express program since 2021, while the Cleveland Guardians have been using Clear technology at their Progressive Field stadium since 2019.
As of now, neither the Mets, MLB, nor Wicket have provided comments in response to media inquiries.
In the NFL, facial recognition for express entry has also been adopted, albeit currently limited to team personnel, vendors, and media, according to NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy. The Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, however, have installed facial recognition systems available for fans.
At Citi Field on Wednesday, the use of the Mets Entry Express Line was minimal, with approximately five users every five minutes, while the main security lines, albeit longer, only required around five minutes of waiting.
The activists outside Citi Field were part of a coalition, including organizations like Fight for the Future, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Amnesty International, which recently signed an open letter opposing facial recognition technology in stadiums. The letter emphasized that such systems present serious risks to privacy and safety without offering necessary benefits. Protesters distributed flyers urging attendees to consider the implications of Go-Ahead Entry, with bold declarations like “WE CALL FOUL ON FACIAL RECOGNITION AT SPORTING EVENTS.” This protest follows a similar demonstration at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies, organized by Fight for the Future last year against facial recognition adoption..
