The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating whether Ticketmaster, a major ticketing platform, is doing enough to prevent bots from illegally reselling tickets on its platform. According to reports by Bloomberg and Reuters, a decision on the matter is expected within weeks. The probe is examining whether Ticketmaster has a financial incentive to allow resellers to circumvent its ticket purchase limits, which were established under a 2,016 law prohibiting the use of bots to bypass these restrictions.
If the FTC finds that Ticketmaster has indeed failed to adequately prevent bot-driven resales, the company could face significant penalties. Reuters reports that the law allows for fines of up to $53,000 per violation, which could result in billions of dollars in penalties if the company is found guilty of multiple infractions. The potential for such high fines has raised concerns within the industry, with critics arguing that the current regulatory framework may be disproportionately harsh on ticketing companies.
The probe also raises broader questions about the role of technology in ticketing and the responsibilities of platforms like Ticketmaster in ensuring fair access to tickets. As the investigation unfolds, the outcome could set a precedent for how companies are held accountable for their digital transactions and the role of artificial intelligence in managing such operations.