Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan, in an extended interview on Good Day New York, doubled down on his controversial facial recognition software, which his entities are using to ban attorneys who are involved in suing Madison Square Garden.
“Facial recognition is just the technology,” Dolan said Thursday morning, his first time speaking to any press in years. “When I walked into the studio, did you recognize my face? Facial recognition. Technology just makes you better at it. the real issue that’s going on here is our policy of not letting attorneys who are suing us into our building until their done suing us. When they’re done, they’re very much welcome back.
“If you owned a bakery or a restaurant, and someone comes in and buys bread from you, and the next day they serve you with a lawsuit because they hated your bread…then the next day, they show up at your bakery again and say they want to buy some more bread. Would you sell them some more bread?”
Attorney Kelly Conlon was refused entry to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular last month after being flagged by the facial recognition software, which is also used at MSG. Dolan uses the software to ban any attorneys working for any law firms that has a suit against any of his holdings, and he is not backing down from it.
“If you're suing us, we just asking you please don't come until you're done with your argument with us - the end,” Dolan said. “And yes, we're using facial recognition to enforce that…If somebody sues you, that’s confrontational.
It’s adversarial. It’s fine, people are allowed to sue, but at the same time, if you’re being sued, you don’t have to let those people into your home.
“The Garden has to defend itself. People say ‘you’re too sensitive, you shouldn’t defend yourself.’ It’s like something out of The Godfather. ‘It’s only business.’ It’s not only business. If you sue us, we’re gonna tell you not to come.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
Listen live to WFAN:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker (just say ‘Play W-F-A-N’)