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Bill

HB 148

Consumer Protection and Labor and Employment - Surveillance-Based Price and Wage Setting - Prohibition

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Vogel

Maryland HB 148 bans businesses from using surveillance data or algorithms to set individualized prices for consumers or wages for workers, targeting discriminatory dynamic pricing and algorithmic wage determination.

Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 148

Legislative bill overview

HB 148 prohibits businesses from using surveillance technology or algorithmic tools to set prices or wages based on individual consumer or employee data. The bill targets dynamic pricing systems and algorithmic wage determination that rely on monitoring personal information, location data, or behavioral patterns to adjust prices charged to consumers or compensation offered to workers.

Why is this important

This bill addresses growing concerns about "surveillance capitalism" in pricing and employment. Real-world impacts include preventing discriminatory pricing where identical products cost different amounts based on a customer's browsing history or zip code, and blocking wage-setting algorithms that could perpetuate pay discrimination based on personal characteristics or worker desperation metrics.

Potential points of contention

  • Business flexibility and efficiency concerns: Companies argue algorithmic pricing optimizes inventory and profitability; restricting these tools could increase operational costs passed to consumers or reduce hiring flexibility
  • Definition and enforcement challenges: The bill must clearly define what constitutes "surveillance-based" systems versus legitimate data analytics, otherwise businesses may circumvent restrictions or face inconsistent enforcement
  • Competitive disadvantage: Maryland-only restrictions could disadvantage local businesses competing against national companies operating in less-regulated states, or push businesses to relocate
  • Technology innovation impact: Overly broad prohibitions might chill development of beneficial algorithms while failing to target genuinely problematic surveillance practices

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

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