Maryland First State to Ban Surveillance Pricing

Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act into law this week, making the state the first in the nation to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores and certain third-party delivery apps. The measure, approved by state lawmakers, takes effect October 1, 2026.

The law prohibits retailers from using personal data, such as purchase history, browsing behavior, geolocation, inferred income, ethnicity, family size or neighborhood characteristics, to charge different customers varying prices for identical products. It also requires grocery shelf prices to remain fixed for at least one full business day, curbing rapid adjustments enabled by technologies like electronic shelf labels and aisle cameras. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $10,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for repeats, following a 45-day correction period enforced solely by the state attorney general.

Supporters view the legislation as a vital consumer safeguard amid persistent food inflation and the spread of data-driven retail practices. "Digital price tags are replacing paper ones. It's happening because we are having cameras that are watching aisles, it's happening because...