Toronto May Be Out of Its Depth on Proposed Surveillance Pricing Ban, Experts Say
Mayor Olivia Chow says the city will seek to stop retailers from using customer data to set higher grocery prices.
- On Tuesday, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow introduced a motion at the Executive Committee to ban "surveillance pricing," a practice where retailers use personal data to adjust grocery costs, which she called "unfair price gouging."
- Surveillance pricing uses individual data such as purchase history and socioeconomic status to set variable prices; Chow argued the city must act because Torontonians struggle with rising costs and corporations seek to maximize profits on essentials.
- Carleton University associate professor Alberto Salazar warned Toronto is "poorly positioned" to enact a ban, as market regulation is federal or provincial; Dan Cohen of Queen's University noted municipalities are "creatures of the province."
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford opposed a ban earlier this year, claiming competition ensures lower costs in a free market; Manitoba is exploring legislation to ban "predatory pricing" on groceries to protect consumers.
- The motion moves to city council next week, where officials will request provincial action; Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal artificial intelligence strategy released last month pledged to modernize privacy laws to prevent such pricing.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Toronto locals slam ‘terrible’ surveillance pricing as Chow eyes ban
What to know Toronto residents are weighing in after Mayor Olivia Chow introduced a motion asking city staff to explore banning or regulating surveillance pricing.... The post ‘Too many eyes’: Toronto residents raise privacy concerns as Chow eyes surveillance pricing ban appeared first on NOW Toronto.
Winnipeg Free Press
Toronto may be out of its depth on proposed surveillance pricing ban, experts say
TORONTO - As the mayor of Toronto looks to rein in surveillance pricing on groceries, experts say the municipal government may be out of its depth in attempting to end the controversial practice.
The Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, wants to tackle custom algorithmic pricing in order to combat food price inflation.
Toronto's mayor says surveillance pricing gouges customers and the city should ban it
Surveillance pricing, where businesses use consumer data to offer different prices based on what they think each individual customer will pay, threatens to gouge Torontonians who are already struggling to afford the cost of living, says Mayor Olivia Chow. She's introducing a motion Monday to see if the city can ban the practice.
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