Massive Attack have refuted online claims that they utilize facial recognition technology in their live performances. The Bristol-based project is at the cutting edge of technology, art, and progressive political movements, strongly advocating for eco-politics and solidarity with Palestine. They frequently employ satire in their acts to critique authoritarian mindsets, although it appears one particular reference has been misunderstood by some. During an animated segment, the band parodied the implementation of facial recognition, which led to inaccurate reports suggesting that Massive Attack is collecting data from their audience. In a statement, the iconic Bristol group labeled these claims as "outright lies" while seeking to clarify the situation. “Last week, several platforms, including ‘Somewhere.Media’, ‘Hidden’, and others published stories concerning our live show and the supposed use of live facial recognition technology. “Propagated through the mindless replication channels of AI-generated Instagram accounts, the ‘story’ gained momentum, and between entertainment platforms and AI clone thought, nobody took the time to fact-check. Falsehoods and blatant lies spread alongside likes and shares. ‘Somewhere Media’ failed to adhere to any basic reporting standards, claiming that show material was ‘sourced from public databases.’” “No Massive Attack live show has ever recorded or retained personal data,” they further noted; “Only government bodies, authorized entities, and licensed contractors can access public databases in the UK, and it would be impossible to do this across multiple cities/countries.” Massive Attack went on to criticize the usage of public facial recognition in the UK, stating that the government is “exceeding almost all other western democracies in its use of public facial recognition … while there exists no specific legislation governing police use of these systems.” Recently, Massive Attack made an appearance at Kneecap’s OVO Wembley Arena concert to publicly support the Belfast band.

      Clash Live in collaboration with WeAre8...

      24 · 09 · 2025

      The Cure is set to deliver a remarkable festival performance at Austria’s Nova Rock next summer.

      The band is keeping their plans for 2026 under wraps, following a successful 18-month period that included a studio album, a remix collection, a live album, and some impressive concert dates.

      Recently, the iconic band announced their first festival appearance of 2026, with The Cure scheduled to perform at Rock En Seine in Paris next August.

      Looking forward, The Cure has just confirmed their second festival performance of 2026. The UK band will headline Nova Rock in Austria on Friday, June 12th.

      This announcement is part of a series from the festival, indicating that The Cure might have a busy summer ahead.

      Additionally, Robert Smith of the band will curate Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London next March.

      —

      Join us on WeAre8 as we delve into global cultural events. Follow Clash Magazine HERE as we joyfully navigate through clubs, concerts, interviews, and photo shoots. Experience backstage sneak peeks and gain insight into our world as the excitement unfolds.

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Massive Attack have refuted online claims that they utilize facial recognition technology in their live performances. The Bristol-based project is at the cutting edge of technology, art, and progressive political movements, strongly advocating for eco-politics and solidarity with Palestine. They frequently employ satire in their acts to critique authoritarian mindsets, although it appears one particular reference has been misunderstood by some. During an animated segment, the band parodied the implementation of facial recognition, which led to inaccurate reports suggesting that Massive Attack is collecting data from their audience. In a statement, the iconic Bristol group labeled these claims as "outright lies" while seeking to clarify the situation. “Last week, several platforms, including ‘Somewhere.Media’, ‘Hidden’, and others published stories concerning our live show and the supposed use of live facial recognition technology. “Propagated through the mindless replication channels of AI-generated Instagram accounts, the ‘story’ gained momentum, and between entertainment platforms and AI clone thought, nobody took the time to fact-check. Falsehoods and blatant lies spread alongside likes and shares. ‘Somewhere Media’ failed to adhere to any basic reporting standards, claiming that show material was ‘sourced from public databases.’” “No Massive Attack live show has ever recorded or retained personal data,” they further noted; “Only government bodies, authorized entities, and licensed contractors can access public databases in the UK, and it would be impossible to do this across multiple cities/countries.” Massive Attack went on to criticize the usage of public facial recognition in the UK, stating that the government is “exceeding almost all other western democracies in its use of public facial recognition … while there exists no specific legislation governing police use of these systems.” Recently, Massive Attack made an appearance at Kneecap’s OVO Wembley Arena concert to publicly support the Belfast band.

The Cure is set to perform a large festival set at Austria's Nova Rock next summer. The band is being tight-lipped about their plans for 2026, following an

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