Chicago Cubs Accused of Illegally Collecting Facial Recognition Data at Wrigley Field
Two fans have taken legal action against the Chicago Cubs and their security contractors, alleging the unauthorized collection of facial recognition data from visitors at Wrigley Field. The lawsuits, filed separately by Gabriel Berta and Jill Lichte, claim violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and raise concerns about privacy rights.
Both complaints assert that the Cubs, along with Blue Star Security and its parent company Protos Security, implemented a surveillance network at Wrigley Field to capture and store “faceprints” of fans and employees without their knowledge or consent as required by law.
The security infrastructure at Wrigley Field reportedly includes advanced facial recognition technologies such as Genetec’s Security Center platform, SAFR software, and Tascent InSight Face scanners for employee access. The plaintiffs allege that detailed facial geometry measurements are being collected and retained in electronic databases.
Berta claims his data was obtained during a game on July 4, 2025, while Lichte states that her information was captured during games on May 25 and August 17, 2025.
The lawsuits highlight Blue Star Security’s public acknowledgment of using biometric scanners and facial recognition tools for crowd control and access management at Wrigley Field. Additionally, they point out that Major League Baseball’s privacy policy acknowledges biometric collection but fails to inform fans at the ballpark.
According to the legal filings, neither the Cubs nor their contractors provided attendees with prior notice, opportunities for written consent, or clear guidelines on the retention and deletion of biometric data, as mandated by BIPA.
Both cases seek to represent a class of fans whose biometric data was unlawfully obtained at Cubs games, with potential statutory damages of up to $5,000 per violation. If the class is certified, it could encompass a significant number of fans and result in substantial financial liability for the Cubs and their security partners.
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