Another hurdle for resellers, which is good, except when you legitimately need to get rid of tickets you can't use. What I don't like is that this is just more data Ticketmaster can use to sell. I also assume they will want to access our phone's GPS to see who is around who, to track us within the event while using the app.
I mean zero disrespect by this... but I'm curious what the outrage will be like from Anti-Vaxxers.
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Seems like some good options. I won't be getting a vaccine for at least 5 to 10 years so glad they have an option to do 24 to 48 ahead testing. Of course that should be covered by the ticketmaster/touring band and not extra out of pocket cost. Good luck to them trying to control and handle this at 50000 person plus stadium shows with a few ushers and a few cops. Better bring in SWAT.
Sign me up. Excited for many people to refuse testing, which gives me a chance to, ya know, see PJ at MSG.
Haha.
I hate ticketmaster as much as the next guy but I'm all for safety protocols like this if it helps concerts return sooner and in a safer manner. With this in mind, I have a hard time seeing a company that does very little well (and that lacks a moral compass) rolling this out in any manner that's not a complete and total disaster.
HIPAA violations are expensive. The penalties for noncompliance are based on the level of negligence and can range from $100 to $50,000 per violation (or per record).
And remember, once they get into this business, your name and address become Protected Health Information (PHI) in certain instances.
For EACH incident. So, if they have a data breach for 1,000,000 customers at once, they could be subject to $100M-50B fine. There would probably be a Gov't settlement on the lower end, but this kind of insurance - who do you think is paying for that?
If you are all for this, don't complain about a $50 increase in TM fees to finance all this.
(And if they use a vendor - they are still responsible. Gov't then has 2 parties to go after for double the fines!).
Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
How Ticketmaster Plans to Check Your Vaccine Status for Concerts: Exclusive
Monday's news that pharmaceutical company Pfizer's early results on a new COVID-19 vaccine showed a 90% efficacy rate on an initial clinical trial have given concert professionals hope that the business can start mounting a return in 2021. As part of that preparation, Ticketmaster has been working on a framework for post-pandemic fan safety that uses smart phones to verify fans' vaccination status or whether they've tested negative for the coronavirus within a 24 to 72 hour window.
Many details of the plan, which is still in development phase, will rely on three separate components -- the Ticketmaster digital ticket app, third party health information companies like CLEAR Health Pass or IBM's Digital Health Pass and testing and vaccine distribution providers like Labcorp and the CVS Minute Clinic.
Here's how it would work, if approved: After purchasing a ticket for a concert, fans would need to verify that they have already been vaccinated (which would provide approximately one year of COVID-19 protection) or test negative for coronavirus approximately 24 to 72 hours prior to the concert. The length of coverage a test would provide would be governed by regional health authorities -- if attendees of a Friday night concert had to be tested 48 hours in advance, most could start the testing process the day before the event. If it was a 24-hour window, most people would likely be tested the same day of the event at a lab or a health clinic.
Once the test was complete, the fan would instruct the lab to deliver the results to their health pass company, like CLEAR or IBM. If the tests were negative, or the fan was vaccinated, the health pass company would verify the attendee's COVID-19 status to Ticketmaster, which would then issue the fan the credentials needed to access the event. If a fan tested positive or didn't take a test to verify their status, they would not be granted access to the event. There are still many details to work out, but the goal of the program is for fans to take care of vaccines and testing prior to the concert and not show up hoping to be tested onsite.
Ticketmaster would not store or have access to fans' medical records and would only receive verification of whether a fan is cleared to attend an event on a given date. Different states will have different requirements. The main role of companies like health pass companies will be to collect data from testing and medical providers and deliver status updates to partner companies in a secure, encrypted way that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Ticketmaster Tech Used to Fight Scalpers Will Now Be Deployed Against COVID-19
To date, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any third-party companies to provide the complex technology needed to deliver real-time vaccination results, but Ticketmaster president Mark Yovich expects the demand for digital screening services -- which will be needed for airline travel, employment verification and theme park entry -- will attract a new wave of investors and entrepreneurs to fuel the growth of a new COVID-19 technology sector.
"We’re already seeing many third-party health care providers prepare to handle the vetting -- whether that is getting a vaccine, taking a test, or other methods of review and approval - which could then be linked via a digital ticket so everyone entering the event is verified," Yovich tells Billboard. "Ticketmaster’s goal is to provide enough flexibility and options that venues and fans have multiple paths to return to events, and is working to create integrations to our API and leading digital ticketing technology as we will look to tap into the top solutions based on what’s green-lit by officials and desired by clients."
For Ticketmaster, two new technologies at the companies will help its clients scale the program. The first is digital ticketing that's linked to a fan’s identity, eliminates paper tickets and can be restricted from being transferred or resold. Ticketmaster also plans to deploy its new SmartEvent system, which helps event organizers and fans manage social distancing, delayed entry and provide possible opportunities for contact tracing. Many of the safety parameters will be set by regional health officials and event organizers. Event organizers also have the ability to set their own prevention protocols, like sanitation, mask compliance and social distancing.
Because Ticketmaster tickets the vast majority of sports leagues in the United States, as well as concert venues and Live Nation owned properties, the implementation of their COVID-19 plan will be an important milestone for the live entertainment industry.
“In order for live events to return, technology and science are going to play huge roles in establishing integrated protocols so that fans, artists, and employees feel safe returning to venues," says Marianne Herman, co-founder and principal reBUILD20, which focuses on helping entertainment and live events companies develop COVID-19 strategies. "Integrating ticketing platforms with the guests verified testing results is one key way to reimagine how we’re going to get fans back to live events. The experience of attending live events will look completely different, but innovation married with consistent implementation will provide a framework to get the live sports and event industry back to work.”
This is a tough one. On one hand, it does not feel great to be sending health information to one of these companies. On the other, it feels like one of the few solutions that would get people back out going to shows with confidence.
Personally, I'm fine winging it. I'll go to shows once I'm vaccinated and take the marginal risk that comes with it. I wonder how many people are ok with that vs. how many need a system like this to feel comfortable.
I don't think this will be Ticketmaster only. My guess is that you will see this for all sorts of events from cruises to flights to sporting events and amusement parks.
There is definitely personal and health information that I wouldn’t share with Ticketmaster but simply demonstrating that I got a vaccine is not an issue to me. Not really different than the vaccination paperwork we have to submit to send our kids to school. They’re not asking for DNA, biometrics, or blood types.
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There is definitely personal and health information that I wouldn’t share with Ticketmaster but simply demonstrating that I got a vaccine is not an issue to me. Not really different than the vaccination paperwork we have to submit to send our kids to school. They’re not asking for DNA, biometrics, or blood types.
This is very true but it just comes down to me not trusting them. I couldn't even tell you what I'm worried about specifically beyond "ah, christ...how are these leeches gonna figure out how to cull and sell or market this data."
And to be clear, if this is how it is I'm gonna play ball. Mostly because of your broader point - I'm not worried that it's going to mean something bad happening to me in particular.
There is definitely personal and health information that I wouldn’t share with Ticketmaster but simply demonstrating that I got a vaccine is not an issue to me. Not really different than the vaccination paperwork we have to submit to send our kids to school. They’re not asking for DNA, biometrics, or blood types.
I don't think this will be Ticketmaster only. My guess is that you will see this for all sorts of events from cruises to flights to sporting events and amusement parks.
Right, this is going to be the norm for all mass gatherings until we have wide vaccine distribution and more data about the long term effectiveness.
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I guess I've seen my last show. IMO anyone who agrees to this is a mindless fool.
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I guess I've seen my last show. IMO anyone who agrees to this is a mindless fool.
I’m not attacking your view point but I’m curious why you feel this way. I don’t want Ticketmaster harvesting information about me but isn’t it as simple as providing proof of a vaccination? They’re hardly gathering social security numbers or other personal identifiable information. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion but seems odd that folks are comfortable storing their credit card info on that site but are not comfortable checking yes/no on a vaccination box. Perhaps I’m oversimplifying it all.
This is a tricky one for me. I'm eager to get back to shows, but I'm not in favor of more "big brother" data collecting. I'll have to look at it when I know all the facts as far as how vaccination is proved, how the information is stored, who it is shared with, etc. At face value, I'm not a fan of it.
Comments
What I don't like is that this is just more data Ticketmaster can use to sell. I also assume they will want to access our phone's GPS to see who is around who, to track us within the event while using the app.
Buffalo, Phoenix, Toronto 2003
Boston I&II 2004
Kitchener, Hamilton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto 2005
Toronto I&II, Las Vegas 2006
Chicago Lollapalooza 2007
Toronto, Seattle I&II, Vancouver, Philly I,II,III,IV 2009
Cleveland, Buffalo 2010
Toronto I&II 2011
Buffalo 2013
Toronto I&II 2016
10C: 220xxx
I hate ticketmaster as much as the next guy but I'm all for safety protocols like this if it helps concerts return sooner and in a safer manner. With this in mind, I have a hard time seeing a company that does very little well (and that lacks a moral compass) rolling this out in any manner that's not a complete and total disaster.
And remember, once they get into this business, your name and address become Protected Health Information (PHI) in certain instances.
For EACH incident. So, if they have a data breach for 1,000,000 customers at once, they could be subject to $100M-50B fine. There would probably be a Gov't settlement on the lower end, but this kind of insurance - who do you think is paying for that?
If you are all for this, don't complain about a $50 increase in TM fees to finance all this.
(And if they use a vendor - they are still responsible. Gov't then has 2 parties to go after for double the fines!).
TOURING
How Ticketmaster Plans to Check Your Vaccine Status for Concerts: Exclusive
Monday's news that pharmaceutical company Pfizer's early results on a new COVID-19 vaccine showed a 90% efficacy rate on an initial clinical trial have given concert professionals hope that the business can start mounting a return in 2021. As part of that preparation, Ticketmaster has been working on a framework for post-pandemic fan safety that uses smart phones to verify fans' vaccination status or whether they've tested negative for the coronavirus within a 24 to 72 hour window.Personally, I'm fine winging it. I'll go to shows once I'm vaccinated and take the marginal risk that comes with it. I wonder how many people are ok with that vs. how many need a system like this to feel comfortable.
And to be clear, if this is how it is I'm gonna play ball. Mostly because of your broader point - I'm not worried that it's going to mean something bad happening to me in particular.
11/19/13 Phoenix 11/29/13 Portland 10/03/14 St. Louis 10/17/14 Moline 10/19/14 St. Paul 04/26/16 Lexington 08/07/16 Boston
08/22/16 Chicago 08/08/18 Seattle 08/10/18 Seattle 08/13/18 Missoula 08/18/18 Chicago
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