Seattle to ban 'surveillance pricing' of groceries

Seattle City Council passed the nation's first city law banning surveillance pricing by grocery retailers, where stores charge individual customers different prices based on personal data. The Sept. 22 vote was 7-2, and the ban takes effect Sept. 1, 2027, applying to grocery stores and delivery services like Instacart.

The ban takes effect in 2027 and applies only to Seattle; retailers may still offer discounts based on bulk purchases, loyalty programs, or demographic groups like seniors or veterans.