U.S. Democrats Paul Tonko, Richard Blumenthal, Charles E. Schumer, and Ben Ray Luján have introduced ‘Stopping Grinch Bots Act,’ which is aimed towards preventing scalpers from deploying bots and snagging popular products in order to resell them at a higher price.
Although this isn’t the first time politicians have proposed measures to combat bots and scalpers, the aforementioned bill comes at a time when the practice is at an all-time high, exacerbated by the pandemic. In their bill, Tonko et al specifically decry “cyber Grinches” who are putting a damper on the prime holiday season.
A press release from Tonko’s office reads:
At a time when families should be able to spend time with their loved ones, digital ‘Grinch bots’ are forcing Americans to scour online sites in the hopes of finding an affordable gift or paying exorbitant prices for a single toy. These bots don’t just squeeze consumers, they pose a problem for small businesses, local retailers and other entrepreneurs trying to ensure they have the best items in stock for their customers. Our Grinch Bots Act works to level the playing field and prevent scalpers from sucking hardworking parents dry this holiday season. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation immediately to stop these Grinch bots from stealing the holidays.
As pointed out by Video Games Chronicle, UK politicians have been discussing similar proposals, but nothing has become law yet. The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment previously said that it has engaged in “constructive conversation” with the government regarding the issue.
