FTC investigates Delta, Uber and Walmart for surveillance pricing

Key Points:

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an inquiry into nine major companies, including Delta, United, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target, and Walmart, to investigate whether they use personal data to set different prices for customers or determine gig workers' pay.
• The FTC is examining if personalized pricing and compensation are influenced by factors such as loyalty programs and data analyzed by advanced algorithms, seeking transparency in pricing and pay practices.
• Companies like Instacart, JetBlue, and Delta have denied using personal data for individualized pricing, emphasizing that fares and prices are based on demand and availability rather than consumer data.
• The FTC has given the companies 45 days to provide detailed information on their pricing and compensation methodologies, warning that failure to comply could result in legal action.
• FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson highlighted the need for consumers and gig workers to understand if and how their personal data affects prices and compensation, aiming to curb opaque and potentially unfair practices.