Yesterday, Governor Wes Moore announced the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act–legislation that would help save Marylanders money by prohibiting dynamic pricing and the use of surveillance data to inform individualized pricing in Maryland grocery stores. If passed, this legislation would shield Marylanders from invasive data practices and unpredictable price spikes that make grocery bills more expensive for Marylanders.
Here’s what Marylanders are seeing:
Dynamic pricing is already changing the way that you pay for ride share, flights, even sports tickets. But now, there’s a fear that it could come for your groceries next.
We’re talking about price gouging at the grocery store, and that’s exactly what Maryland Governor Wes Moore says he wants to stop with some new legislation.
These electronic shelf labels are already in some stores. Retailers are using algorithms to map and respond to consumer behavior–meaning food prices could change by the hour, based on demand and by the product, even on the weather.
Governor Moore wants to ban dynamic pricing and block stores from using surveillance data to track shoppers and raise prices. Now, he would also require grocery store prices to remain fixed for at least one business day.
“The same algorithms that can predict what we need can also be weaponized to exploit. This is not a fair market–this is a stacked deck. This is about profit squeezing.”
Violations would be treated as an unfair or deceptive trade practice, and the Maryland State Attorney General’s Office would be enforcing it.
Contact: Carter Elliott, IV [email protected]