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Patronscan's "ultimate bouncer" never forgets a face in San Francisco's gay bars

Three Castro bars including Mix and Badlands now scan IDs and store patron data for up to five years, prompting EFF legal concerns.

Rob Beschizza
Jul 31, 2026
∙ Paid
Photo: Ivanova Ksenia / Shutterstock. Illo: Rob Beschizza
Photo: Ivanova Ksenia / Shutterstock. Illo: Rob Beschizza

Gay bars in San Franscisco are installing ID and facial scanners and requiring patrons to give it up if they want to get in, with Cydney Hayes in The San Francisco Gazetteer likening the gates to the TSA and Jacob Ogles in The Advocate pointing out the loss of anonymity and safety in LGBTQ+ spaces.

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