The new campaign states, "Ticketmaster - owned by the same company as Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Electric Daisy Carnival, Electric Forest, and more - is investing in facial recognition technology, which puts undocumented fans, fans of color, trans fans, and fans with criminal records at risk of being unjustly detained, harassed, or judged. 24/7 mass surveillance will not keep concerts safe."
Some of the negative impacts of facial recognition technology include "deportation of immigrant fans" and "identification and arrest for outstanding charges during event".
Amanda Palmer is one of the musicians to back the campaign. Posting it to Twitter, Palmer wrote, "people should feel safe & respected at shows, not subject to surveillance, harassment, deportation, or arrest."
people should feel safe & respected at shows, not subject to surveillance, harassment, deportation, or arrest. please join me and @fightfortheftr to tell @Ticketmaster & others not to use #facialrecognition at festivals and concerts https://t.co/vdIKF2hbKo #DontTrackFansAtShows
— Amanda Palmer is about to tour the UK/EU (@amandapalmer) September 9, 2019
Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello has also joined the campaign, and wrote on Twitter, "I don’t want Big Brother at my shows targeting fans for harassment, deportation, or arrest. That’s why I’m joining this campaign calling on Ticketmaster and others not to use #facialrecognition at festivals and concerts."
I don’t want Big Brother at my shows targeting fans for harassment, deportation, or arrest. That’s why I’m joining this campaign calling on @Ticketmaster and others not to use #facialrecognition at festivals and concerts. https://t.co/i3a9oPIa5C
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) September 9, 2019