1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take action to ban the practice of surveillance pricing. As your constituent, I am deeply concerned that companies are increasingly using personal data and opaque algorithms to set individualized prices in ways that harm consumers, undermine fair markets, and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Surveillance pricing allows corporations to track browsing behavior, location, income proxies, purchasing history, and other personal attributes to determine what each person can be charged. Unlike traditional dynamic pricing, this practice is fundamentally discriminatory. It creates hidden price disparities that are impossible for consumers to detect or contest. It also encourages companies to harvest ever more intrusive amounts of data in order to refine price manipulation strategies. This practice is especially dangerous in sectors where people have little choice or bargaining power—such as travel, insurance, utilities, health-related goods, and essential services. When a company can silently charge a higher price simply because an algorithm predicts someone is desperate, stressed, in a certain zip code, or less likely to comparison-shop, the result is exploitation, not innovation. I respectfully ask you to champion legislation that would: 1. Ban individualized pricing based on personal data, behavioral tracking, or inferred characteristics. 2. Require transparency for any algorithmic pricing, including clear disclosures when prices are personalized or dynamic. 3. Establish strong data-minimization standards to prevent companies from using sensitive or irrelevant personal information for pricing decisions. 4. Empower the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce violations and impose meaningful penalties. 5. Protect consumers from algorithmic discrimination, especially where pricing practices may disproportionately burden low-income or marginalized groups. Fair markets rely on equal access to prices and clear information. Surveillance pricing erodes both, and without action, these practices will only become more aggressive and more embedded in everyday transactions. I urge you to prioritize consumer protection, market fairness, and data privacy by addressing this issue directly. Thank you for your time and your continued leadership on behalf of Washington residents.