Target: Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of FTC
Goal: Take strong actions against surveillance pricing.
Recent campaign ads by U.S. Senator Mark Warner have highlighted a deceptive practice targeting consumers that is increasingly prevalent across sectors from grocery shopping to airline booking. Surveillance pricing does not set a fixed price on a good or product for all consumers. In fact, some consumers may find themselves charged much more for the same product or service as other consumers…and their own private data is often used against them.
Companies compile a plethora of data on customers, including location, demographics, and purchasing history. With surveillance pricing, all of these factors can be used to hit a consumer with a higher price tag. Worse yet, the companies often obtain this information not through the consumer but through shady brokers that sell the data for profit. In 2025, the results of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report found the practice to be rampant, particularly amongst online retailers. The FTC chair shut down the study, public comments, and any and all efforts to curb this price fixing practice.
The calls to action continue on the legislative level, however. Sign the petition below to demand FTC leadership answer this call of consumer protection.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Chairman Ferguson,
Algorithmic price fixing – aka surveillance pricing — was found to be widespread in the FTC’s own comprehensive study. Rather than acting on this practice that costs consumers millions of dollars yearly, you instead shuttered the study because it was enacted by a previous administration. You then proceeded to ignore pitches from lawmakers to take up the issue, publish the findings, and enact strong guardrails for the sake of America’s consumers.
Turn a new page and end illegal price fixing.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: RDNE Stock Project
