Mayor Eric Adams appears to be attuned to MSG boss James Dolan’s use of facial recognition technology to ban lawyers and other venues deemed the enemy — but he’s less concerned about using such technology to root out criminals Means “thumbs up”.
“You should be using technology, not abusing it,” Adams said Friday morning on FOX 5’s “Good Day New York” when asked about the Dolan controversy.
Dolan, 67, came under fire last month after facial recognition software enabled a New Jersey attorney linked to a law firm involved in targeting the billionaire venue for Radio City Music Hall one of the lawsuits.
Madison Square Garden has similar Big Brother restrictions.
On Thursday’s bizarre episode of “Good Day New York,” Dolan threatened to stop drinking at MSG in response to an investigation into his use of the controversial technology.
“We’re going to pick a night, maybe a Rangers game, and we’re going to shut down all the booze and alcohol [MSG],” the embattled billionaire told the host.
While Adams admitted he didn’t watch the interview, the self-described “top cop” was quick to champion similar technology that could root out would-be criminals.
“I think you should be constitutionally bound to use all forms of technology to identify people at risk and make sure we can use that technology safely,” he said.
“I’m a big believer in technology.”
Adams said the lawsuit against Dolan is “an opportunity … to determine whether some type of rule was violated,” but clarified that he “has the thumbs up for technology … that should be used within the limits of the Constitution and our local laws.” .”
Appearing on “PIX11 Morning” late Friday morning, Adams reiterated that he wasn’t sure if facial recognition was “used correctly” at Dolan’s venue.
“Any form of technology [we use in New York City]…we use it within the guardrails of the Constitution,” he assured the audience.
In both interviews, Mayor Adams was eager to steer the conversation toward the content of his State of the Union address, making several comments defending his approach to crime and bail reform.
“We’re headed in the right direction,” he told “Good Day New York” about his administration’s crackdown on subway violations.
“We’ve now taken thousands of people off our subway system and placed them in shelters and other care.”
In an interview with “PIX11 Morning News,” Adams pointed to “bottlenecks in the criminal justice system.”
“It’s taken too long for people to get the justice they deserve, and then we have to zero in on those repeat offenders,” he said, swirling around the moderator’s questions about his negotiations with Albany on bail reform.
