Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6822 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6822 To prohibit the circumvention of control measures used by internet retailers to ensure equitable consumer access to products, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 17, 2025 Mr. Tonko introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To prohibit the circumvention of control measures used by internet retailers to ensure equitable consumer access to products, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES RELATING TO CIRCUMVENTION OF ONLINE ACCESS CONTROL MEASURES. (a) Conduct Prohibited.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person-- (A) to circumvent a security measure, access control system, or other technological control or measure on an internet website or online service to enforce posted purchasing limits or to manage inventory; or (B) to sell or offer to sell any product or service in interstate commerce obtained in violation of subparagraph (A) if the person selling or offering to sell the product or service-- (i) participated directly in or had the ability to control the conduct in violation of subparagraph (A); or (ii) knew or should have known that the product or service was acquired in violation of subparagraph (A). (2) Exception.--It shall not be unlawful under this section for a person to create or use any computer software or system-- (A) to investigate, or further the enforcement or defense, of any alleged viola