San Francisco: Don’t Fall for Industry Defense of Surveillance Pricing
Summary
The article discusses the practice of "surveillance pricing," where companies charge different prices based on harvested personal data. The EFF supports California Assembly Bill 2654, which aims to ban this practice, and criticizes the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for stalling a vote on a supporting resolution due to industry lobbying. The FTC has found that companies may use this tactic to charge consumers, such as new parents, higher prices in times of need.
IFF Assessment
Surveillance pricing exploits user data for profit, which is a negative development for user privacy and security.
Defender Context
This article highlights how data harvesting and monetization can lead to predatory pricing, impacting consumers. Defenders should be aware of how personal data is being leveraged beyond typical security breaches and consider the broader implications of privacy erosion and its link to business practices.