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MSG Suing Wired Over Article Alleging Company Kept Database Of LGBTQIA Celebrities
Madison Square Garden Entertainment has sued Wired and reporter Noah Shachtman over a report alleging that the company kept a database identifying LGBTQIA celebrities. MSG says the reporting falsely portrayed information obtained from stolen data as evidence of discrimination, while Wired says its reporting was accurate and that it will fight the lawsuit; the dispute raises wider questions about corporate data practices, surveillance and press freedom.
MSG, controlled by James Dolan, operates Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and the Chicago Theatre. The company says the LGBTQIA information was used for inclusion-related invitations, commercial opportunities, charitable donations and community outreach, whereas Shachtman argues the lawsuit confirms that sexual orientation was tracked; MSG has also faced previous scrutiny over facial-recognition technology and its use at venues.
In short
- MSG has sued Wired over reporting on LGBTQIA celebrity data.
- MSG denies discriminatory use of the information.
- Wired and its reporter say they stand by the report.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
MSG’s strongest case is that Wired’s report took information obtained from stolen data and presented it in a way that falsely implied discriminatory surveillance, despite the company’s claim that the information supported inclusion efforts, invitations, commercial opportunities and outreach. A company can reasonably argue that inaccurate reporting about sensitive personal data causes serious reputational harm and should be answerable through the courts.
The case against
Wired’s strongest case is that reporting on a company’s collection and use of information about people’s sexual orientation is a matter of substantial public interest, particularly given the sensitivity of that data and MSG’s past scrutiny over venue surveillance. The company’s stated purposes do not settle whether the information was appropriately gathered or used, and a lawsuit over the article may raise legitimate concerns about press freedom and the chilling effect of litigation.
Explained simply
Madison Square Garden Entertainment, controlled by businessman James Dolan, operates multiple major American entertainment venues including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre. The company provides entertainment and hospitality services to millions of visitors annually through these properties.
Wired magazine published an article by reporter Noah Shachtman alleging that MSG maintained a database that tracked the sexual orientation of LGBTQIA celebrities and other attendees. MSG disputes this characterisation, claiming that any sexual orientation data it collected was used for inclusion-focused invitations, commercial partnerships, charitable initiatives, and community engagement rather than for discriminatory purposes.
The dispute reflects wider concerns about how companies gather and use personal data about the people who visit their venues. The case also raises questions about surveillance practices at entertainment venues, particularly as MSG has previously faced criticism over its use of facial recognition technology.
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