Congress is taking a closer look at AI surveillance pricing, where corporations charge consumers higher prices based on their shopping habits and personal data. Major corporations, including Amazon and Walmart, buy or harvest consumer data to create profiles and charge customers different prices for the same item or service.

Concerns Over Privacy and Exploitation

Critics argue that this practice raises privacy concerns and exploits customers. Consumer profiles can include purchase history, real-time location, demographics, and even cursor movements. Dozens of industries have implemented surveillance pricing, affecting groceries, airline fares, and retail goods.

Some states, such as New Jersey and Maryland, have enacted laws to ban or curtail surveillance pricing. Lawmakers are considering similar measures to protect consumers from exploitation.

Supporters of surveillance pricing argue that it can result in lower costs for some customers and is necessary for the economy to function. However, others claim that it is a form of price gouging, where corporations take advantage of consumers’ willingness to pay.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.