New Jersey governor signs law banning surveillance pricing to protect shoppers
8 hours ago
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, banning businesses from using shoppers' personal data to charge different prices for identical products, making it the third US state to do so after Maryland and Connecticut.
- The law prohibits surveillance pricing, where retailers use data like online activity, location, and purchasing history to set individualized prices, especially on groceries and essential items, but exempts loyalty programs and other discounts.
- The law also imposes a one-year pause on the rollout of new electronic shelf labels while the New Jersey Innovation Authority studies their impact, allowing stores to continue using existing ones.
- Supporters, including the United Food and Commercial Workers International union, praised the law as a step to protect shoppers and workers from AI-driven predatory pricing, and hope it inspires other states.