Two gay bars in San Francisco's Castro district, Badlands and Toad Hall, announced on August 11, 2026, that they will cease using the face-scanning technology known as PatronScan. This decision follows criticism from the LGBTQ community and privacy advocates after local media coverage highlighted the technology's implications. Toad Hall stated on Instagram that they are pausing the use of PatronScan while reviewing their ID verification and security practices.
PatronScan technology involves an ID scanner and camera that captures patrons' photos, storing them in a database for up to 21 days. This database is accessible to other venues that subscribe to the service, raising concerns about data privacy and potential misuse, particularly regarding the safety of queer communities. A petition from privacy rights group Fight for the Future has garnered around 2,000 signatures urging bars to reject PatronScan.
Toad Hall emphasized their commitment to guest safety and privacy, stating that they will continue to check IDs manually during the review period. In contrast, the Mix bar plans to maintain the use of PatronScan, citing safety improvements despite a patron's report of being denied service for opposing the technology. A spokesperson for PatronScan clarified that the technology does not utilize facial recognition and that the data collected is not sold to third parties. However, patrons cannot opt out of having their ID scanned and must submit a request online to remove their data from the database.