Senate Hearing on the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016
January 1, 2017
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The Frame
The hearing served as a legislative foundation for the , which aims to regulate the use of software that bypasses security measures on ticket-selling websites, directly impacting how consumers purchase tickets for live events.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Ticket consumers
The legislation aims to change the availability and pricing of tickets for live events by restricting the use of automated purchasing software.
Ticket brokers and platforms
These entities are subject to new regulations regarding the use of software to acquire tickets for resale.
Event producers
Producers are impacted by changes in how tickets are distributed and the potential reduction in unauthorized bulk purchasing.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on September 13, 2016, in the Russell Senate Office Building.
- The subcommittee examined the impact of automated 'bot' software on the online ticket marketplace.
- Witnesses included representatives from the Big 12 Conference, the production team of 'Hamilton', StubHub, and Ticketfly.
- The hearing included a formal statement from New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.
- The record includes written responses to follow-up questions from Senators Fischer, Nelson, and Klobuchar directed at the witnesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the BOTS Act?
Who testified at this hearing?
Why It Matters
The hearing served as a legislative foundation for the , which aims to regulate the use of software that bypasses security measures on ticket-selling websites, directly impacting how consumers purchase tickets for live events.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Legislative response to technology
The hearing demonstrates a clear shift toward federal intervention in digital marketplace practices that were previously largely unregulated.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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