Face-scan ID technology is being pulled from two well-known San Francisco gay bars after a backlash from locals and privacy advocates over the use of the AI-powered system. Badlands and Toad Hall said they would stop using PatronScan, a platform designed to verify ages, check IDs and flag problem patrons across venues.
The bars said they were pausing the system immediately while they reviewed how they handle ID checks and security. In a statement posted by the venues, they said the safety of guests and staff remained important, along with privacy and trust. They also said security teams would continue to check IDs manually in the meantime.
The decision marks a notable reversal for two fixtures of the Castro District and the city’s LGBTQ scene. Badlands, which reopened after the pandemic, is known for affordable cocktails and Top 40 music. Toad Hall also carries a long history in LGBTQIA+ nightlife. Both bars came under scrutiny in June after Gazetteer SF reported they were using PatronScan’s Guard+ product.
The change is being treated as a victory by privacy activists who have argued that facial recognition tools have no place at the door of neighborhood bars and clubs. Fight for the Future, the advocacy group leading the campaign, celebrated the move and said the pressure on the venues had worked. The campaign drew support from a wide list of musicians, including Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello, as well as The Coup’s Boots Riley and dozens of others.
Fight for the Future said on Instagram that the fight would continue until dangerous AI surveillance technology was blocked at as many bars and venues around the country as possible. The group has framed the issue as one of basic privacy and freedom of association, especially for people who may already feel watched in public spaces.
