On Thursday, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warned that companies could use personal data, including browsing history, to determine how much they charge.
Warren Calls Surveillance Pricing ‘Really Creepy’
"This is really creepy: giant companies could be charging you higher prices based on data they have on you (like your browsing history)," Warren said in a post on X.
"It’s called ‘surveillance pricing.’ Just so you know, Donald Trump shut down the investigation into this scam."
This is really creepy: giant companies could be charging you higher prices based on data they have on you (like your browsing history).
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) August 13, 2026
It's called "surveillance pricing."
Just so you know, Donald Trump shut down the investigation into this scam.
Surveillance pricing, also known as individualized or algorithmic pricing, refers to companies using personal information and algorithms to tailor prices to individual consumers rather than relying solely on factors such as supply and demand.
The Federal Trade Commission said in January 2025 that its initial findings showed consumer information, including precise location, browser history and shopping behavior, could be used to target individuals with different prices for the same products.
Airlines Face Questions Over AI, Personal Data
The issue is now drawing fresh scrutiny from Congress.
Earlier this week, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) sent letters to eight major airlines seeking information about how they collect and use customer data amid concerns over "surveillance pricing."
The letters went to eight major U.S. carriers: American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL), Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL), United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL), Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE:ALK), JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ:JBLU), Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV), Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULCC) and Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK).
Pallone is seeking information on whether airlines consider factors such as income, spending history, location and browsing activity when setting fares.
He also wants to know how frequently AI changes prices, which consumer data carry the most weight and whether humans review algorithm-generated fares.
The inquiry follows a broader investigation Pallone launched in May into surveillance pricing across 25 companies.
Trump’s FTC Halted Public Inquiry
The FTC’s surveillance-pricing work began under former Chair Lina Khan. After Donald Trump took office, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson withdrew the agency’s request for public comments on the issue in January 2025, Politico reported.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Bryan J. Scrafford on Shutterstock.com
