Why Privacy Matters to Sports Fans

Sports are more than just games. They’re powerful expressions of culture, identity and community. Across the world, stadiums and sporting events bring people together in joy, connection and even protest. But as surveillance becomes increasingly present in these spaces, the experience of being a sports fan is quietly being reshaped.

The growing threat of intrusive surveillance such as AI-powered facial recognition in stadiums risks turning a vibrant cultural space into one of control and suspicion. For many, sports are an escape. Surveillance threatens that escapist pursuit by making fans feel watched, judged and potentially punished for simply expressing themselves.

Throughout history, sports have also served as powerful platforms for protest and political expression, from raised fists to silent kneels. These moments have challenged injustice and sparked global conversations. Yet, with the looming presence of surveillance, the ability of fans and athletes alike to use sport as a site of dissent is being suppressed.

When fans fear reprisal for chanting, waving a banner or even attending a game, they may begin to change how they behave. This not only undermines personal freedom and the exercise of cultural rights, but also weakens the sense of trust and belonging that makes sports so special.

Privacy allows fans and athletes to fully engage with the culture and community of sport without fear. It ensures that stadiums remain places of joy and expression.

Privacy matters.

PI Work: Right to exercise cultural rights