Vindman Introduces Bill to Prevent Grocery Stores from Charging Shoppers Different Prices Based on Personal Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today introduced legislation to prohibit large grocery retailers from using consumers’ personal information, facial recognition technology, and other surveillance tools to charge shoppers different prices for the same groceries.

With grocery prices already stretching household budgets, families across Virginia and the country are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of essentials. As Americans pay more for everything from milk and eggs to meat and produce, emerging pricing technologies threaten to make grocery shopping even more expensive and unpredictable.

The No Personal Data in Grocery Pricing Act would ban a practice known as surveillance pricing, in which retailers use personal data collected about shoppers, including their shopping habits, purchasing history, or other identifying information, to determine how much an individual consumer is charged for a product. The bill would also prohibit dynamic pricing at large grocery stores and their online platforms.

“Families across Virginia are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries. The last thing they need is to worry that the price of milk, eggs, or bread could change based on who’s buying it or what a retailer knows about them,” said Vindman. “Americans deserve to know they’re getting a fair price when they walk into a grocery store, without having their personal information used against them. Grocery stores should be focused on feeding families, not finding new ways to squeeze more money out of hardworking Americans. My legislation will put consumers first, protect their privacy, and ensure families aren’t paying more at the checkout counter because of invasive pricing practices.”

The legislation would apply to large retail food stores and their online shopping platforms, establishing protections against pricing practices that use personal information or automated systems to determine what consumers pay.

As grocery retailers increasingly adopt digital pricing systems and collect more consumer data, the legislation seeks to ensure that technological advancements do not come at the expense of consumer privacy, transparency, or affordability.

Click here for bill text.

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