You may have heard the term surveillance pricing in the news recently, with the NDP introducing a motion to ban the practice in Canada. Or, like a majority of Canadians, you might be unfamiliar with the term.
Surveillance Pricing is when companies use your personal data to decide how much to charge you in order to maximize profit.
Corporations collect your personal data from your shopping habits and purchase history, to your location, online searches, and even the type of device you use. They can then use that information to determine how much you’re willing to pay and charge you.
An example of the surveillance pricing in action was seen in the United States with Instacart, as consumers were being charged up to 23 per cent more than other shoppers for the same products at the same stores.
In Canada, there has been no confirmed case. However, the technology is here already, including electronic shelf labels, which are already being used in grocery stores across British Columbia, and the AI algorithms that scrape personal data.
Recently, UFCW 1518 has launched a campaign to urge the BC government to ensure this practice never takes form in this province.
As a union, UFCW 1518 represents thousands of workers at grocery stores across BC and the Yukon, including Save-on-Foods, Safeway, FreshCo, and PriceSmart. We are committed to fighting for fairness for retail workers. We believe that surveillance pricing has the ability to impact workers and consumers across the province, which is why we’re actively fighting against the practice with our campaign.
It’s simple: Same Product. Same Price. No Exceptions.
We need to stand firmly against this practice before it reaches our stores and wreaks havoc.
Click here to join British Columbians across the province in demanding action.