Several bars in San Francisco’s Castro district have begun using technology that scans ID’s and photographs patrons’ faces. Allegedly, the technology is employed to blacklist bad patrons who engage in fighting, theft, or other disruptive activities, but some customers are uncomfortable with the threat to their privacy that such record-keeping poses. Supporters argue that the technology can help identify banned individuals, speed up check-ins, and improve safety for both staff and customers, while critics warn that facial recognition poses significant privacy risks, particularly for queer and transgender people who may not want their identities, locations, or social activities recorded and stored. The concerns this story taps into about data security and potential misuse by law enforcement or third parties parallel increasing public anxieties over the practices of DNA testing and storing companies like AncestryDNA and 23andMe. Some of the bars in the Castro are employing technology called Patronscan Guard+, a biometric and personal data collection device that is produced by a Canadian surveillance company. Patronscan is already widely used in Canadian bars and nightclubs, but we have not heard any gripes about its use from the queer community (yet).
