California lawmakers aim to crack down this year on companies that inflate prices through personal information surveillance or algorithms that use competitively sensitive data.
A measure (AB 446) that would ban “surveillance pricing” — in which a seller gathers data like web browsing behavior from potential customers to determine who would pay higher prices — would be the first in the nation if enacted.
Multiple state bills filed this month would prohibit such tactics in areas like rental agreements or online retail as lawmakers intensify their scrutiny. Weaker antitrust enforcement anticipated under President Trump and California leaders’ promise ...