A vast internal archive of Madison Square Garden has revealed a pervasive surveillance system that categorized hundreds of celebrities, including loyal Knicks fans, based on a risk score and even sexual orientation. The documents, published by hacker group ShinyHunters, show how James Dolan's organization tracked online comments, public opinions, and personal details to assign labels such as 'LGBTQIA', 'DO NOT HOST', and risk levels from 'flag' to 'high'.
A Database to Monitor VIPs and Their Online Comments
The database, with over 39,500 entries, goes beyond tracking politicians, entrepreneurs, and sports stars: it includes dozens of show business figures regular at the arena's courtside. According to a source familiar with the matter, Garden security routinely performs social media sweeps for anyone requesting complimentary tickets. Even a mild criticism, such as complaining about gate access, can trigger an alert. Fat Joe, the rapper who had publicly praised Dolan, was labeled 'medium risk' due to his friendship with Jadakiss, who had previously criticized the owner. Pete Rock, legendary hip-hop producer, is marked 'DO NOT HOST' for promoting a boycott after Charles Oakley's ejection.
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Classifications by Sexual Orientation and Gender
A particularly controversial aspect is the categorization of 93 entries as 'LGBTQIA'. Artists like Ricky Martin, Phoebe Bridgers, and Emily Green of Geese were labeled without apparent reason. Evan Greer, director of Fight for the Future, highlighted how the Garden shows a disproportionate interest in queer and transgender people, citing earlier cases of targeted surveillance. The system assigns increasing risk scores: 'flag' (to discuss with a supervisor), 'low risk' (such as Edie Falco, Tracy Morgan, and Ben Stiller), 'medium risk' (Anna Wintour, Lily Allen, David Harbour), and 'high risk' (Freddie Gibbs, Lil Jon, DaBaby). Singer Julia Fox was banned from complimentary tickets after a provocative appearance.
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The Link to Cybersecurity and Previous Attacks
The data leak fits into a broader landscape of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. As reported in a recent article on SpaceX Grok 4.5 launches at half the price of rivals, companies face increasingly sophisticated threats. The MSG case demonstrates how even internal collection of sensitive data can turn into a legal and reputational risk. The ShinyHunters group, active since 2019, has already hit dozens of companies, and the arrest of four alleged members in France in June 2025 did not stop the leaks.
Political Pressure and Complimentary Tickets
The database also reveals the strategic use of free tickets to support a political agenda. Thirty-two candidates backed by the MSG PAC are listed, along with hundreds of current and former elected officials. Nearly sixty people were noted for signing a letter or testifying in favor of the Garden's permit renewal in 2023, including union leaders, lobbyists, and even a pizza shop owner. None of them received a risk score, underscoring the system's discretion. According to the source, it is 'a terrible, paranoid system'.
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A class-action lawsuit filed in June 2026 accuses Dolan's organization of creating a 'surveillance state' that violates privacy. Legal director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, Darío Maestro, stated that the scandal demonstrates why MSG should not collect sensitive data. For further details, refer to the original article by WIRED that broke the story.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/madison-square-garden-celebrity-database-surveillance
