The B.C. government’s first move against automated ticket bots and ticket scalpers will be to ask residents what they think of these practices.
Victoria launched a three-week-long survey Tuesday (March 6), asking British Columbians’ to share their experiences buying and selling tickets to live events.
"The action we're taking is aimed at protecting people from unscrupulous scalpers and unfair practices that shut average people out from events in B.C.,” B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in a statement.
Public outcry over ticket bots, software programs that flood websites to scoop up tickets as soon as they go on sale, intensified in 2016 when Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip announced plans for a farewell tour following lead singer Gord Downie’s brain cancer diagnosis.
Many fans complained bots instantly shut them out of purchasing tickets for the in-demand shows.
Since then, Albert and Ontario have held public consultations and passed legislation on ticket scalpers.
The survey asks residents, among other questions, if they believe ticket bots should be banned, what should be done to tickets purchased through these bots and whether they’ve had problems buying tickets to live events.
The province said it would use the survey results to develop recommendations for improving fairness and transparency. The results are expected to be made available to the public in the spring.
The survey is available at http://www.engage.gov.bc.ca/ticketbuying
