James Dolan defends use of facial-recognition technology to ban entry into Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall

• MSG Entertainment is facing criticism for its use of facial-recognition technology at its venues.

• The New York attorney general and state liquor authority expressed concern about the tech's legality

• Dolan doubled down on the tech in a recent interview and suggested MSG could stop selling alcohol.

James Dolan, the CEO of Madison Square Garden and the owner of the New York Knicks, is defending the use of facial-recognition technology to enforce bans in his venues after public outcry.

Dolan spoke with Fox 5 New York on Thursday about the system, one day after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement questioning the use of the technology to deny entry into MSG and Radio City Music Hall, which Dolan's company, MSG Entertainment, also operates.

During the interview, he also threatened to stop serving alcohol for at least one New York Rangers game after the state liquor authority questioned whether the arena violated its license by prohibiting people from entering the building.

To emphasize his point, Dolan held up a piece of paper with the email, phone number, and photo of Sharif Kabir, the CEO of the New York State Liquor Authority, and encouraged viewers who would be upset by a lack of alcohol at MSG to contact Kabir to voice their concerns.

MSG's use of facial-recognition technology to enforce bans has garnered increased scrutiny in recent months. In one high-profile example, in December, a New Jersey attorney claimed the technology identified her as a lawyer for a firm involved in litigation against one of MSG Entertainment's companies, and subsequently barred her from entering a Rockettes performance at Radio City Music Hall with her daughter, according to  NBC 4 New York.

MSG confirmed to NBC that the venue barred the attorney from the Rockettes show, and said the policy meant any lawyers involved in litigation against any of MSG Entertainment's companies are banned from attending events at MSG-owned venues until the case is resolved.