signalHacker News Best2026-09-24
Seattle City Council votes to ban surveillance pricing in sale of groceries
Seattle City Council passed the Fair Pricing and Transparency Act (CB 121267), which would ban personalized pricing for groceries, making Seattle the first city to do so. The bill, supported by Consumer Reports, prohibits using personal data such as browsing history or income to alter prices. Consumer Reports investigations found Instacart price differences up to 23%, costing families over $1,200 a year.
- for who
- Consumer advocates, policymakers, and shoppers concerned about fair pricing
- what changes
- Seattle's ordinance provides a model for other cities to prohibit surveillance pricing.
- to do
- Urge Mayor Wilson to sign the bill and support Consumer Reports' Make the Price Right campaign.
key points
- Seattle passed CB 121267, the Fair Pricing and Transparency Act, banning personalized grocery pricing
- Consumer Reports found Instacart price differences up to 23%, costing families over $1,200 annually
- Maryland, Connecticut, and New Jersey have already banned surveillance pricing
#surveillance pricing#policy legislation#consumer rights
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