Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has signed legal orders for legislation that bans touts from using bots to bulk buy tickets.
The legislation takes effect from April 6. Hancock tweeted that it will help “genuine fans get genuine tickets”.
The new criminal offence was brought forward via the Digital Economy Act. It means touts who use automated software to harvest tickets – bypassing limits on maximum ticket purchases – will face unlimited fines.
Both UK Music and its former CEO Feargal Sharkey welcomed the move.
Fittingly, on my way to @o2sbe to see @thisissigrid I’ve just signed the legal Orders to Ban the Bots from 6 April. Will help genuine fans get genuine tickets pic.twitter.com/GU23TxM6AY
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 14, 2018
On behalf of music fans everywhere, a big thank you to @MattHancock for this. https://t.co/kMmqSHyUAt
— UK Music (@UK_Music) March 14, 2018
Well done Mr Hancock I know this will mean a lot to a lot of people. https://t.co/ysCs1AUprV
— Feargal Sharkey (@Feargal_Sharkey) March 14, 2018
Measures against touts selling tickets at vastly inflated prices were included in the Digital Economy Bill last year.
There have been additional steps against resale sites by the Competition And Markets Authority (CMA), while Google has announced resale regulations.
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