14 DAY TRIAL // As detailed in a press release published on the official website of New Mexico Democrat Senator Tom Udall, a new bicameral bill was introduced by Democratic senators Udall, Blumenthal, Schumer & Tonko to "block cyber grinches stealing Christmas."
"The Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2018" was introduced by the four Dems on November 23 and it is designed to stop entities using automated bots from snatching up all holiday promotional items as soon as they go live.
"Bots are software programs that can automatically spot and snap up inventory offered for sale online. In a matter of seconds, third-party vendors can purchase hundreds of items, squeezing out parents and children," says the press release.
Cracking down on these so-called "cyber grinches" would allow ordinary people who click around online shops to find a good deal only to arrive too late to be able to buy those items at the initial discounted price.
As it is right now, the individuals who use bots get their hands on all the "goodies" listed by online shops during holiday sales, later selling them at inflated prices to individuals who would have otherwise bought them on sale.
In 2016, President Obama signed a bill blocking bots from buying tickets in bulk
"But when resellers use automated ‘Grinch bots’ to cheat the system, they can snatch up beloved toys and highly discounted items to sell at outrageously inflated markups—all with a few keystrokes," said Udall.
"Holiday shopping can be stressful enough without having to compete with an army of ‘Grinch bots’ that don’t even have to sneak down the chimney to steal presents."
Previously, on December 15, 2016, former U.S. President Obama signed the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (also known as the BOTS Act of 2016), which made it illegal for organizations and individuals alike to use automated bots to instantly buy all tickets available for popular events and resell them for exorbitant prices at a later time.
Udall's law proposal wants to provide the same legal frame designed to stop bots from taking advantage of all deals during holidays sales and allowing their masters to make huge profits later on by selling the goods they bought using "speed hacks."
"It’s time we help restore an even playing field by blocking the bots. When it comes to purchasing products online, major retailers should put forth policies that will help prevent future Grinch bots from stealing the season’s hottest toys," also stated Udall.