San Francisco gay bars back off AI-assisted face scanning technology after privacy uproar

Gay bars in San Francisco have discontinued the use of artificial intelligence-assisted face scanning technology after the community raised privacy concerns.

Both Badlands and Toad Hall announced on Saturday they would stop using Patronscan technology, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“Effective immediately, we are pausing the use of Patronscan while we review our ID verification and security practices,” Brian Aranda, director of operations at both bars, told the newspaper in a statement. “Our security teams will continue to thoroughly check IDs manually during this time. We appreciate everyone who has shared their concerns and remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

Related: Why are San Francisco gay bars scanning patrons’ faces?

The Castro District bars sparked anger and scrutiny when the security measures were first deployed earlier this year, especially among LGBTQ+ patrons of establishments often seen as havens for those not publicly out.

Controversy intensified after reporting by the San Francisco Gazetteer. The publication also reported on the use of AI-assisted recognition software at The Mix, where managers have defended the screening technology with local press. "It keeps my customers safe. We've had no bar fights, vandalism and theft is down," a general manager told a Bay Area NBC affiliate in June.

The Mix has not made any announcements about the use of the technology since concerns were first raised.

The technology is intended to flag fake IDs and identify individuals with a history of causing violence at the clubs. Signage has told patrons before they enter that the technology will be used, though many visitors told the Gazetteer they were unaware images of them would be taken and stored until they were in front of a camera themselves.

Among privacy advocates, the use of Patronscan’s technology has raised concerns for years. The OneZero blog on Medium documented as early as 2019 how Patronscan had been marketed as a security system but was also being used by the technology company to track consumer data at establishments that had implemented the screening systems.

But the use of such surveillance technology at businesses catering specifically to LGBTQ+ customers has attracted special attention. Controversy over the technology has become particularly acute at a time when the Justice Department under President Donald Trump has fought hospitals in court for lists of transgender patients.

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"It's really not a safe time to start making databases of queer people that could be accessed by the Trump administration, by a private company, by a bad actor," Evan Greer, digital director of Fight for the Future, told the NBC outlet.

The California Legislature has launched investigations of the business model and whether it complies with the Golden State’s privacy laws, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The tech company has addressed such questions in a website FAQ section on its website, which claims, “Patronscan does not do facial recognition in North America, or any kind of automated analysis of the ID or the live photo image.” The site also said information is only stored in databases for a limited time, about 21 days in the U.S., primarily for use of law enforcement during investigation of crimes. The company said it does not sell or give away any data to third parties.

The technology used in San Francisco complies with California law, according to the company. “The law specifically permits Patronscan’s customers to use Patronscan kiosks to prevent underage drinking and the use of fake identification. Additionally, collecting and disclosing an individual’s personal information is clearly permitted by the statute to report, investigate, or prevent ‘abuse, fraud and material misrepresentation,’” the website states.