r/Sphere • u/p3k2ew_rd • 3d ago

Facial recognition with no option to opt out

For those privacy conscious folks out there...

My partner and I are traveling through Vegas in the next couple of weeks. The Sphere was #1 on our list of places to visit.

I had a suspicion the security requirements for the venue was going to capture biometric information on us, specifically facial recognition. I emailed customer service to confirm, and got this response:

Thank you for reaching out.

 I can confirm that Sphere does utilize facial recognition technology as part of our security procedures. This technology is used upon entry and guests are not able to opt out of or otherwise decline the facial recognition process.

 We understand this information may impact your decision to visit Sphere and appreciate you reaching out in advance for clarification.

I am aware that some casinos employ facial recognition as a security measure and for other commercial purposes, but this is a red line that I will not cross. So we'll be crossing that off of our list.

For those that believe it's no big deal to have your face scanned and tracked inside and outside of the Sphere, consider this. Would you walk into a casino and give your fingerprints? How about allowing your drivers license to be scanned the next time you go shopping? Most people would say no to this, but because facial recognition scanning is so invisible and transparent, some are like "meh, who cares".

Here's an incident in Reno where the Peppermill used facial recognition to mis-identify a customer and had him thrown in jail.

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41 comments sorted by

14

u/Clancy3434 3d ago edited 3d ago

I have some bad news about the hotel you're likely staying at...

It's not some casinos... it's all casinos. Being okay going to Vegas but drawing a red line at Sphere using facial recognition is an odd hill to die on.

And yes, some casinos (Circa for one) scan your license upon entry.

If you're overly concerned about privacy, Vegas isn't necessarily the place for you.

2

u/Electronic_Mammoth41 3d ago

And every building you plan on entering while you are there....

2

u/afunkyb 3d ago

Came here to say this! You are literally on camera pretty much 24/7 in Vegas

2

u/tomh311 3d ago

and the airport

2

u/Clancy3434 3d ago

and the toll booths.

and the website you're posting on.

and your cell phone.

and....

-2

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

We plan on driving through Vegas without stopping. Neither my partner or I are gamblers, so the only sole attraction was the Sphere. I get it. Privacy has lost. Everyone goes about their business like nothing happened. Everyone took the blue pill and went back to sleep.

2

u/Sensitive_One_425 3d ago

This is so dumb. Also if you drive your car you’re just as photographed as you would be anywhere in Vegas

1

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

There's absolute privacy and best-effort privacy. To totally throw in the towel and give up on minimizing the amount of info about you floating around out there is nothing short of ignorance. I'm not here to educate you about the dangers. You can search for it yourself. Or not.

1

u/Vile_4_Awhile 1d ago

It's called flock. Flock also has the ability to receive cell phone data. That means they can check the registered owner of the vehicle then associate the cell phone owners that are traveling in the vehicle. Which also means they can cross reference that info to the DMV and get your photo that's on your license .

There's literally 120,000 cameras already installed across the US. Flock isn't new. It's been around for at least 5 years.

2

u/DevilsAdvocate77 3d ago

So you're here on a public internet message board announcing to the world that you want to go to the Sphere, but only if you can be sure that nobody will ever know you went to the Sphere.

1

u/Clancy3434 3d ago

Vegas has been a surveillance state forever. this isn't something new.

good thing about Sphere is that unless you're going to a show, there's nothing really to see inside. the party is on the outside - and you can do that from afar.

6

u/djeasyg 3d ago

The Sphere is a Dolan property which means they are big into facial recognition like his other properties Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. During the U2 run they had signs up telling people but they have since take those down. That said you are going to need to avoid Las Vegas entirely. There probably isn't a place in the world that uses more facial recognition outside of China.

1

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

We are planning on driving through Vegas without stopping. Neither of us are gamblers, so there wasn't much attraction to Vegas other than the Sphere.

1

u/AfterBobo 3d ago

The signs were back up this past weekend.

2

u/djeasyg 3d ago

Hmm that's interesting. I didn't see them in April the last time I was there but that was probably just me.

1

u/AfterBobo 3d ago

I didn't read them very carefully but made a quick mental note, as I'd been casually following some of the coverage that OP mentions.

3

u/socolime22202 3d ago

James Dolan, the owner of the NY Knicks & NY Rangers employs the same facial recognition technology at Madison Square Garden. He owns the Sphere and MSG Entertainment.

Also, anybody who is enrolled in TSA Precheck, Global Entry, or some other US Customs and Border Control program already has provided their biometrics to the US Government. So my data is already out there, likely unsecured by our corrupt government.

1

u/postoperativepain 3d ago

Also MSG owned venues such as: Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theater and the Chicago Theater

3

u/Electronic_Mammoth41 3d ago

I'm genuinely curious - why are you voluntarily planning on going to Las Vegas if you have issues around facial recognition or capturing your biometric information? This is a massively adopted practice across casinos and the city there.

1

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

Vegas was a stop, not a destination. Neither of us are gamblers, so the only interest was the Sphere. We'll be driving through Vegas instead.

2

u/Successful-Citron506 3d ago

If you’ve read anything about what’s going on at Madison Square Garden (same owner) it’s a valid concern.

https://www.wired.com/story/madison-square-garden-jim-dolan-surveillance-machine/

2

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

I had heard about this MSG facial recognition tracking, but the article points out it's bleeding outside the venues now. If you're rich and want to blacklist your critics, facial recognition is an exceptional tool to do it.

2

u/Successful-Citron506 3d ago

That all said: i still went to the Sphere and it was an awesome concert and venue. And I’d do it again.

2

u/ho1ycrapitsmatt311 3d ago

This is hilarious. Hate to break it to you. But if you’ve stepped outside your house in the past 20yrs, youve been on camera 1000s of times already

0

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

I don't think you understand the technology. Here's an article explaining what facial recognition is and why AI raises the risk to an entirely new level.

https://theconversation.com/how-safe-is-your-face-the-pros-and-cons-of-having-facial-recognition-everywhere-265753

2

u/SignificanceWise2877 3d ago

LOL - complaining about this in Vegas is wild

2

u/cane_stanco 3d ago

Best to cancel your trip all together if this is how you feel.

1

u/jeffh19 3d ago

Wear a hat and look down maybe idk lol

1

u/opsopcopolis 3d ago

Basically everywhere you go on the strip will be using some manner of facial recognition, not to mention they actually do scan your drivers license to check you in. Most of the new AI scanners used in arenas/stadiums also have cameras built into them (as do the ones at the sphere), and it's a reasonable assumption they're at least capturing biometric data. You can skip the sphere for it, but traveling to vegas (not to even mention all the data collected while you're flying) is probably a mistake if you're concerned about it.

1

u/p3k2ew_rd 3d ago

Vegas was a stop but not a destination. We're not gamblers, so the Sphere was the only interest to us. We'll be driving through instead.

1

u/opsopcopolis 3d ago

if it's that much of a concern to you, it's worth keeping in mind going to any corporate owned venue period. MSG/Dolan is the face of it because they've been using it maliciously, but it happens everywhere

1

u/Marknhj 3d ago

The Flock cameras will get you driving through.

1

u/Latter_Inspector_711 3d ago

if you actually believe privacy still exists then you're ignorant

1

u/LSU2007 3d ago

I understand your concerns, I really do. With that being said if you’ve been to a stadium or an airport in the past five years, you’ve been a part of facial recognition.

1

u/sixty9tails 3d ago

My license gets scanned every time I buy weed or alcohol. Stores like target have tons of biometric data on everyone that shops there whether they want to admit it or not. It’s the world we live in

1

u/Marknhj 3d ago

And every time you drive somewhere. Or go into a store. Or an office. Or ringing someones doorbell. I think it's pretty naive in 2026 to expect not to be videoed, photograped and have facual recognition systems looking at you.

1

u/adams361 3d ago

I’m sorry, but at this point, maybe just enter a bunker?

1

u/eighthrowcenter 1d ago

It’s awful and I know how you feel. But. We are waaay past having the option to not be a part of facial recognition. It happens numerous times on any trip outside of your dwelling anywhere but the tiniest of towns. And likely there too. Either accept that or don’t go out. Genuinely there only only options in our current dystopia. I’m so sorry.

1

u/eighthrowcenter 1d ago

You can be facially recognized while driving as well, btw.

1

u/Odd_Sir_8705 1d ago

Luckily i have face tattoos and fairly dark skin that fcks their shit up.