zeit.de
Eventim combats millions of bot-driven ticket scalping attempts
CTS Eventim, the world's second-largest ticketing company, reports millions of bot requests during major online ticket sales, highlighting the significant issue of ticket scalping, which is especially prominent in events like the Olympics and concerts by popular artists; Eventim actively works to counter this, operating its own resale platform Fansale to manage unauthorized sales.
- How significant is the impact of automated bot purchases on ticket availability for major events, and what measures are being implemented to combat this?
- CTS Eventim, the world's second-largest ticket vendor, reports millions of automated bot requests during large-scale online ticket sales. These bots are used by scalpers to acquire tickets and resell them at inflated prices on unauthorized secondary markets. Eventim employs measures to prevent these bot purchases, but the problem is widespread, particularly for major events like the Olympics and concerts by popular artists such as Ed Sheeran.
- What are the economic and social consequences of ticket scalping, and how effective are current regulations and industry practices in mitigating these issues?
- The prevalence of ticket scalping, or the practice of acquiring tickets to resell them at higher prices, highlights the challenges faced by ticket vendors in ensuring fair access to events. Eventim's creation of its own resale platform, Fansale, is a response to the problems of unauthorized resale, including price gouging and fraud, on other platforms. While the scale of scalping is currently unquantified, Eventim's experience indicates it is substantial.
- What innovative solutions or regulatory changes could be implemented to more effectively address the issue of ticket scalping and promote fair access to events?
- The use of bots by scalpers represents a significant technological challenge to the fair distribution of event tickets. The ongoing arms race between ticket vendors and scalpers will likely drive further technological innovation in both ticket sales security and the methods used by scalpers to circumvent those systems. The long-term impact may be a shift towards more secure digital ticketing systems to minimize unauthorized resale.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames Eventim's actions in a largely positive light, highlighting their efforts to combat bots and scalpers. The headline and introduction emphasize Eventim's success in preventing automated purchases. While the problem of scalping is acknowledged, the focus remains on Eventim's response rather than the broader societal impact of the issue.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and factual, though terms like "Wucher" (usury) carry a negative connotation. The description of scalpers as "Spekulanten" (speculators) also suggests a degree of disapproval. More neutral phrasing could be used, perhaps describing the practices as "resale" or "secondary market transactions.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on Eventim's perspective and methods for combating bots and ticket scalping. Missing is a balanced perspective from ticket scalpers themselves, outlining their motivations and the potential economic factors driving their actions. The impact of scalping on fans is also underdeveloped. While the article mentions exorbitant prices, it doesn't delve into the experiences of fans who struggle to get tickets at face value. The article also omits data on the overall success rate of bots, and the effectiveness of Eventim's anti-bot measures.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between Eventim's efforts to control ticket sales and the actions of scalpers. It doesn't fully explore the complexities of the issue, such as the role of ticket pricing strategies and the demand created by popular events. The article suggests that Eventim's Fansale platform is a solution, but it does not explore potential downsides or limitations of this platform.
Sustainable Development Goals
By combating ticket bots and unauthorized resale, Eventim aims to make tickets more accessible to genuine fans, reducing the inequality of access to events. The creation of Fansale, a regulated resale platform, further supports this by preventing excessive price gouging and ensuring fair pricing.