S. 196 · On the floor · Commerce

MAIN Event Ticketing Act

What it does

Prohibits using automated applications to buy event tickets from online sellers in circumvention of posted purchasing order rules, including software that defeats access controls or security measures.
Requires online ticket sellers to maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for the security, confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their sites or services.
Requires sellers to report known circumvention incidents to the FTC and take reasonable steps to address them.
Establishes civil penalties, authorizes FTC civil actions, requires law enforcement coordination on cyberattacks against ticket sites, and requires an FTC enforcement report to Congress.

Official summary

Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for Event Ticketing Act or the MAIN Event Ticketing Act This bill expands measures to protect the security and integrity of online ticket sales. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of applications that perform automated tasks to purchase event tickets from online ticket sellers in circumvention of the seller's posted ticket purchasing order rules. This includes using software applications that circumvent access control systems or security measures. In addition, online ticket sellers must establish, implement, and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the seller's website or service. Further, online ticket sellers must report known incidents of circumvention to the Federal Trade Commission and take reasonable steps to address any such incidents. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of the provisions of this bill (and related prohibitions under current law) and authorizes the commission to bring civil actions for such violations. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies must coordinate as appropriate with the…

Latest action

Sep 2, 2025: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 144.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation