Altpress (10/24/19) Shoemaker, Whitney

More than 40 music festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, and SXSW, have vowed to prohibit the use of facial-recognition technology at their events. The software has been touted as a tool to help musician Taylor Swift monitor for stalkers at performances, but its multiple uses besides security have fueled concerns of intrusiveness. Reports revealed that facial scans are fed into massive databases that are used for ad targeting and behavioral tracking. Although Ticketmaster parent Live Nation has poured money into facial ID companies like Blink Identity, a company spokesperson said Ticketmaster has no current plans to use the software at clients' venues. "Rest assured, any future consideration would be strictly opt-in, always giving fans the right to choose," the spokesperson added. The push against facial recognition among bands and artists was stoked when activist organizations like Fight for the Future raised the issue.

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