Brazil introduces new rules for ticket sales at cultural events

Brazilian consumers will receive more information before buying tickets to cultural events under new rules signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday.

The regulations require online platforms to show the ticket price, all charges and whether the sale comes through an official or third-party channel before a purchase is completed. The government said platforms cannot impose automatic fees or charges without a corresponding service.

The rules also target automated purchasing. Platforms must create mechanisms to prevent bots and other automated systems from buying large quantities of tickets abusively or for speculative purposes. The government did not specify a threshold for what would count as a large quantity.

Ticket resale platforms must disclose the ticket’s original price and the markup charged. They must also state whether the seller is an individual or a legal entity. The changes follow worldwide consumer criticism of ticket platforms over high fees and alleged unfair resale practices.