The "MAIN Event Ticketing Act" aims to curb the use of bots and other means of circumvention to buy up tickets online, ensuring fair access for consumers and penalizing those who bypass security measures.
Diana Harshbarger
Representative
TN-1
The "MAIN Event Ticketing Act" aims to protect consumers and improve online ticket sales by strengthening the BOTS Act of 2016. It targets the use of automated software to bypass ticket purchasing limits and requires ticket sellers to implement security measures, report circumvention incidents to the FTC, and address the causes of such circumvention. The act also increases penalties for violations and encourages collaboration between law enforcement agencies.
Fighting the Bots: MAIN Event Act Targets Ticket Scalpers with Stricter Seller Rules & $10K+ Fines
If you've ever tried buying tickets online the second they drop, only to see 'Sold Out' faster than you can click, you know the frustration. Automated programs, or 'bots,' often snatch up inventory before real fans get a chance. The MAIN Event Ticketing Act aims to tackle this by strengthening the existing Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016. It specifically makes using software to bypass purchasing limits or security measures an explicit violation and requires online ticket sellers to actively fight back.
Beefing Up the Digital Bouncers
Under this proposal, ticket sellers can't just passively sell tickets anymore; they need to play defense. The bill mandates implementing specific website policies and 'reasonable' security safeguards. Think of it like upgrading the locks and adding security cameras to their digital storefront. This includes access control systems to actually enforce those '4 tickets per person' limits. What's 'reasonable' security depends on the seller's size, the data they handle, and the risks involved – likely meaning different expectations for a major platform versus a small local venue. Sellers also have to ensure any third-party companies they work with meet these standards and must regularly update their security tech. If bots do manage to break through, sellers are required to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) within 30 days.
Giving the Watchdog More Bite
The FTC gets a significantly larger role here. The bill directs the agency to set up a public website where consumers like you and me can report suspected bot activity or other violations. The FTC is tasked with sharing these reports with state attorneys general, potentially leading to wider enforcement. Crucially, the FTC gains clearer authority to take violators to court. The penalties are steeper too: fines start at $10,000 per day for ongoing violations, plus at least $1,000 per individual violation (like each ticket improperly bought). Intentional cheating could draw fines of $10,000 per violation. The bill also encourages the FTC to coordinate with the FBI and DOJ, signaling a more serious approach to these digital shenanigans.
Will Fans Finally Get a Fair Shot?
The goal is clear: make it harder for bots to operate and level the playing field for actual fans trying to buy tickets at face value. Requiring active security measures and mandating breach reports could pressure sellers to invest more in bot prevention. The public reporting website offers a direct channel for consumers to flag issues. However, the effectiveness hinges on robust enforcement by the FTC and how clearly 'reasonable security' and 'circumvention' (defined as getting around security) are interpreted. Sophisticated bot operators constantly evolve their tactics, so this will likely be an ongoing cat-and-mouse game, even with these new rules in place.