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Bill

S 47

An Act relative to surveillance pricing in grocery stores

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Moore

Prohibits Massachusetts grocery stores from using customer surveillance data to charge different prices to individual shoppers based on personal information.

Accompanied a new draft, see S2515
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 47

Legislative bill overview

S 47 addresses "surveillance pricing" in grocery stores—the practice of using customer data, surveillance cameras, or tracking technologies to set personalized or dynamic prices for individual shoppers. The bill would regulate or restrict retailers' ability to implement such discriminatory pricing practices based on personal information collection.

Why is this important

Surveillance pricing raises consumer protection and equity concerns, as it could allow retailers to charge different prices to different customers for identical products based on income level, shopping history, location data, or other personal factors. This practice threatens price transparency and could disproportionately harm vulnerable populations who may be charged premium prices, while potentially violating expectations of fair market pricing.

Potential points of contention

  • Retail industry opposition: Retailers and technology companies may argue the bill limits their ability to use advanced analytics and personalization, potentially restricting legitimate dynamic pricing or loyalty program optimization strategies.
  • Definition and enforcement challenges: The bill's definition of "surveillance pricing" and how to distinguish it from legal price discrimination, targeted discounts, or loyalty programs may be difficult to enforce and could create compliance ambiguity.
  • Economic impacts on pricing models: Restricting data-driven pricing could affect retailers' competitive strategies and profit margins, with unclear effects on overall consumer prices or market competition.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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