Hong Kong steps up battle against bots in crackdown on concert ticket touts buying in bulk online
- Government IT experts have been helping Leisure and Cultural Services Department tackle buyers who use computer programs to beat competing users on online ticketing platforms
Hong Kong officials have further stepped up their fight against scalping by deploying IT experts to help fend off touts who use computer programs to buy up large numbers of concert tickets online, the city’s technology minister revealed on Saturday.
Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said IT officials had helped the Leisure and Cultural Services Department tackle bulk buyers who use so-called bots to beat competing users on the government’s online platforms.
The department operates a ticketing system for concerts held at government venues. It has threatened to criminalise scalping for events at these facilities.
Officials are also mulling introducing “personalised ticketing” in which purchases would require a customer’s real name, and their identity to be verified at the venue.
The government has been under pressure to address rampant scalping for tickets to pop music shows, which are often resold for up to 25 times their original price. Fans have queued for days in advance at box offices only to be told tickets have sold out online.