Iowa Senate Bill SF2322

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/14/24
• Engrossed: 2/21/24
• Refer: 2/21/24

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase event tickets on the internet, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly SF 2269.)

Impact

The bill imposes stringent restrictions on ticket purchases by prohibiting the use of bots to buy more than eight tickets per event or circumvent sales limit controls, such as electronic queues or presale codes. Additionally, it forbids using multiple online identities to exceed purchasing limits. These measures are expected to create a fairer ticket sales environment, thus benefiting average consumers who may otherwise face challenges from bot-driven ticket hoarding, leading to inflated secondary market prices.

Summary

Senate File 2322 aims to regulate the use of automated bots in the online purchasing of event tickets, establishing clear definitions and prohibitions to protect consumers from unfair practices. Specifically, the bill defines 'bots' as automated software that mimics human actions on the internet, distinguishing it from benign features like autofill. It outlines what constitutes an 'event' and a 'ticket', ensuring clarity in the context of ticket sales in venues requiring admission fees. The proposed legislation seeks to curb unethical ticket-buying practices allowed by bots that could potentially deprive regular consumers of access to available tickets.

Contention

While the bill is designed to protect consumers and foster fairness in ticket distribution, it may face opposition from ticket vendors and automated purchasing service providers who could argue that such regulations would limit their business models. There might also be concerns about the enforceability of these provisions, particularly in tracking bot activities effectively. Furthermore, how civil penalties are applied for violations is likely to be a topic of debate, raising questions about the balance between deterring fraudulent behavior and allowing for legitimate automated participation in ticket sales.