CFA Urges FTC to Prohibit Harmful Surveillance Pricing Practices
The Consumer Federation of America sent the following letter to the Federal Trade Commission regarding its proposed enforcement policy statement on personalized pricing. The letter states that contrary to the assertions in the proposed policy, the Commission does have the authority to prohibit the discriminatory practice of surveillance pricing.
"Discrimination is the most pernicious consequence of surveillance pricing. Data used to set prices can easily stand in for race, age, income, and other protected characteristics. This means that surveillance pricing hurts low-income and working families, who cannot easily comparison shop, the most. We urge the Commission to keep using its tools against discriminatory pricing, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, rather than retreating from them."
