Congresspeople have promised action in the wake of Ticketmaster’s problem-filled presale for Taylor Swift’s 2023 tour, which enraged fans and resulted in calls for an examination of longstanding allegations of monopolistic practices against the company. Last week Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Mn.) and Mike Lee(R-Ut.), announced they will beholding a hearingto examine the ticketing industry, and on Monday Sens. Richard Blumenthal(D-Ct.) andMarsha Blackburn(R-Tn.) wrote one to the chair of the Federal Trade Commission inquiring about the agency’s plans to fight the use of bots in ticketing.
In the letter, the senators inquired about the steps the FTC is taking to enforce the 2016 law known as the Better online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which was designed to crack down on the use of illegal bots, which snap up hundreds or thousands of tickets before fans can purchase them. The problem has remained despite strong efforts to combat it, most obviously in the form of Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program.
While the law gives the FTC the authority to enforce violations, the senators claim the agency has taken action just once, despite the ongoing proliferation of bots in online ticket sales. In the letter, they cite recent bot-related problems surrounding ticket sales for tours or residencies by Adele, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan andBlake Shelton.
“While bots may not be the only reason for these problems, which Congress is evaluating, fighting bots is an important step in reducing consumer costs in the online ticketing industry,” the letter reads in part. “Some reports have found secondary ticket sales ranging from $1,000 (Bruce Springsteen) to $40,000 (Adele).”
Ironically, Swift is no fan of Blackburn’s and has clashed with the senator in the past. She broke her unspoken but longstanding no-politics stance in 2018, slamming the senator for her right-wing voting record and urging voters from their home state of Tennessee to vote for her opponent. She has even called Blackburn “Trump in a wig.” Blackburn later responded, saying rather that the singer will be the “first victim” in a “socialistic government.”
The full text of the letter appears below:
Dear Chair Khan:
We write to ask for information about the steps the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking to combat the use and operation of bots in the online ticket marketplace. As you know, the Better online Ticket Sales, or BOTS Act, became law in 2016. This law prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological control measure used online by a ticket issuer. It also prohibits the selling or offering of an event ticket obtained through a circumvention violation if the seller participated in, had the ability to control, or should have known about the violation. The BOTS Act gives the FTC and state attorneys general the authority to enforce violations as unfair and deceptive practices.
Recently, several high profile incidents arose where consumers encountered serious difficulties purchasing tickets through online ticket vendors, including Ticketmaster and AXS. While bots may not be the only reason for these problems, which Congress is evaluating, fighting bots is an important step in reducing consumer costs in the online ticketing industry. For example, consumers reported trying to purchase tickets to see Bob Dylan at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, only to be told the tickets in their shopping cart no longer existed. Similarly, 22,000 fans preregistered to buy tickets for Blake Shelton, but only a few hundred actually got tickets. Finally, Ticketmaster/LiveNation pointed to online bots as a reason why fans could not get Taylor Swift concert tickets, leading the ticket seller to shut down sales to the general public.
While some consumers opt to purchase tickets on the secondary market, most fans cannot afford to pay thousands of dollars for a single concert ticket. Some reports have found secondary ticket sales ranging from $1,000 (Bruce Springsteen) to $40,000 (Adele).3 Preventing this type of consumer harm is exactly why Congress chose to enact the BOTS Act six years ago and why we both chose to sponsor that bill.
We understand that, in January 2021, the FTC took its first enforcement actions under the BOTS Act. However, given the numerous high-profile incidents in the online ticket marketplace, it would be helpful to understand how the FTC intends to act to address such conduct going forward. We request answers to the following, which may be provided in a confidential briefing if needed:
1. Does the FTC have any pending enforcement matters before it with respect to the BOTS Act?
2. Why has the FTC only undertaken a single enforcement action to date using its BOTS Act authority?
3. Are there obstacles preventing the FTC from exercising its authority under the BOTS Act that Congress should be aware of?
4. Are there other solutions that Congress needs to consider in conjunction with the BOTS Act?
We appreciate your timely attention to this issue.
Sincerely,
Marsha Blackburn Ranking Member Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security
Richard BlumenthalChairSubcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security
