Bots Are Buying Tickets | Durham News

Durham News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 8, 2026 · 2m

Bots are hijacking concert ticket sales—96% of traffic in some major events is automated, leaving real fans scrambling. Scalpers use slick software to snatch tickets faster than humans, forcing regulators like the FTC to sue ticketing giants accused of enabling the chaos. Artists like Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles are canceling scalper-acquired tickets and reissuing them at face value, while platforms like Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange cut out resellers. Spotify’s new Reserved program even uses your streaming history to prioritize loyal fans—because in this digital battlefield, the real…