The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is urging the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to reconsider their stalled vote on A.B. 2654, a bill that would ban "surveillance pricing." This practice involves charging different prices for the same product based on harvested personal data.

The EFF argues that surveillance pricing is part of a larger business model focused on profiting from privacy invasion. The FTC has found that companies may use personal information, like zip codes and parental status, to inflate prices. For example, a new parent searching for a baby thermometer might be shown higher prices.

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has criticized A.B. 2654, raising concerns about business compliance and the impact on discounts. However, the EFF asserts that the bill clearly defines and prohibits surveillance pricing, with specific carveouts for legitimate loyalty programs and uniform discounts. The EFF compares surveillance pricing to online behavioral advertising, both of which incentivize extensive data collection and manipulation of consumer choices.