Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2021

Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2021

This bill makes it unlawful to use automated tools (i.e., bots) to intentionally bypass a website's security measures in order to purchase and resell its products or services in interstate commerce.

Bill 117 hr 6096, also known as the Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2021, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of combating the use of automated software, or "bots," to purchase popular holiday gifts in bulk and resell them at inflated prices. The bill seeks to protect consumers from price gouging and ensure fair access to in-demand products during the holiday season.

If passed, the Stopping Grinch Bots Act would make it illegal to use bots to circumvent online purchasing limits set by retailers. It would also require online retailers to disclose their efforts to prevent the use of bots on their platforms and provide consumers with more transparency about product availability and pricing.

Additionally, the bill would empower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these new regulations and investigate instances of bot usage in online retail. The FTC would have the authority to impose fines and penalties on individuals and companies found to be in violation of the Stopping Grinch Bots Act. Overall, the Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2021 aims to protect consumers from unfair practices in online retail and ensure a more equitable marketplace for holiday shoppers.