United States of America: Announced FTC’s inquiry into surveillance pricing practices

On 23 July 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated an inquiry into the practices of eight companies involved in offering surveillance pricing products and services. The inquiry focuses on how these companies use consumer data, including location, demographics, credit history, and online behaviour, to tailor prices for individuals. The FTC's inquiry aims to assess the implications of these practices on privacy, competition, and consumer protection. The FTC requested information from Mastercard, Revionics, Bloomreach, JPMorgan Chase, Task Software, PROS, Accenture, and McKinsey & Co. The FTC is seeking detailed information on the types of products and services offered, data collection methods, customer demographics, and the potential impact on consumer prices. The inquiry was opened based on the FTC Act 6(b), which allows the FTC to open studies that are not aimed at specific law enforcement actions.