ID Scanner Privacy Explained Safety vs Surveillance

There’s a new unified safety initiative in Huntsville and 18 nightlife venues are working together to reduce violence and stop repeat offenders from moving venue to venue and promote responsible growth in the local bar and nightclub scene.

Anytime new technology is introduced, it’s going to spark conversations about privacy. 

In this case, the focus is on how ID scanners are used.

The biggest concerns are about biometrics, surveillance, and data being sold. 

Here are the facts about the IDVisor Smart V2 scanners used by the Huntsville coalition and Group Sync:

Why Do Venues Use ID Scanners in the First Place?

Before ID scanners were introduced, bouncers did visual checks and “the math test” (quick calculations based on birth year) to allow someone into their establishment.

Now,  fake IDs are more sophisticated, and often pass the visual inspection and blacklight tests.

Manual checks, make it virtually impossible to remember and flag a patron who was previously removed from the premises for past violent behavior.

With the introduction of ID scanners, venues reduce:

• Underage drinking fines: Removing human error from the interaction.
• Violence: Keeping known troublemakers out creates a safer environment for peaceful guests.
• Human Error: A tired doorman might miss a fake ID that a scanner catches instantly.

Does the ID Scanner Collect Biometric Data?

No, our ID scanners are not facial recognition, fingerprint, or iris scanners. 

They’re barcode readers. They quickly decode the machine-readable 2D barcode (PDF417 format) found on the back of standard U.S. driver’s licenses.

It pulls the same basic information already printed on the front of your license like your name, date of birth, and expiration date.

This is used for two things only: age verification and enforcing a temporary ban list.

Your Data Stays Local. 

The data isn’t sent to a massive public database. It stays with the businesses. 

• Local Control: All extracted data stays under the full control of the participating businesses.
• Safety-Only Use: The data is only used to verify age and check the shared ban list.
• No Marketing or Selling: The local businesses control the collected data and are advised to never used for marketing, profiling, or shared with third parties without the cardholders permission.
• Data Retention: Venues set their own strict data retention policies, with records typically getting purged after 30-90 days unless a violation requires longer-term flagging. 

How Does the Shared Ban List Work?

Ban lists aren’t to be confused with blacklists. 

While privacy advocates worry that venues will blacklist patrons for arbitrary reasons, a ban list gives businesses the data they need to protect their customers and community. 

We offer an optional cloud service, IDVisor Sync. It syncs your scanners’ data so every bouncer at every location and entry point has access to the same data. 

This prevents flagged individuals from re-entering venues, not to monetize personal information.

Our system flags specific, safety-related behaviors (e.g., “Assault on Staff,” “Brandishing a Weapon”).

It’s not a tool to rate customers or track their spending habits. 

When a scan occurs, the system simply checks the ID against submitted flags and potential safety threats. If there’s no match, the system clears the entry. 

A Note on Compliance and History

Our scanners are compliance tools designed to help businesses manage risk, not surveillance tools designed to track citizens.

We believe in safety that respects civil liberties. These tools help businesses promote accountability without compromising customer privacy.

Contact us today if you have questions about how the IDVisor Smart V2 works.

Frequently Asked Questions