# 119-s-3516: Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2025

119-s-3516, Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3516
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3516
- Congress: 119
- Title: Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Commerce
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Prevents bots and tools that bypass online purchase limits and inventory controls.** The bill would make it illegal to defeat website security or access controls that enforce posted buying limits or manage stock, and it would bar selling items obtained through that kind of circumvention while allowing limited security research. - Online shoppers: Posted purchasing limits and inventory rules on websites would be protected by a federal prohibition on circumventing the technical controls that enforce them. - Retailers and marketplaces: The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the prohibition by treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act, giving businesses a federal enforcement route. - Sellers and resellers: It would be unlawful to sell products obtained by bypassing these controls when the seller participated in, controlled, or knew about the circumvention. - Security researchers: A narrow exception permits creating or using software to investigate, enforce, or research vulnerabilities if the work advances security knowledge or helps develop security products. - State enforcers: State attorneys general and other state consumer protection officers may sue to stop violations and seek damages or restitution, but they must notify the FTC within 10 days and the FTC may intervene.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on bots that bypass limits: benefit, medium. If enacted, this would make it illegal to bypass website security or access controls that enforce posted purchase limits or manage inventory. You would not be allowed to use bots or other software to get around those limits. Selling items obtained by breaking these rules would be unlawful if the se…
- State enforcement for illegal bots: benefit, medium. If enacted, state attorneys general would be able to sue on behalf of residents to stop violations, force compliance, and seek damages or restitution for these unlawful bot or circumvention practices. The state attorney general would need to notify the Federal Trade Commission in writing at least 1…
- Defines 'posted' and the Commission: mixed, low. If enacted, this would define "Commission" to mean the Federal Trade Commission. It would also define "posted" to mean clearly and conspicuously published on an internet website. These definitions would guide who enforces the rules and when a website notice counts as posted.

## Related bills

- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3516 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3516)

## Related
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3516 (as of 2026-09-10).