Maryland’s First-in-Nation Ban on Grocery Surveillance Pricing Tests Retail Tech Limits

Maryland Becomes First U.S. State to Ban “Surveillance Pricing” in Grocery Stores

Is it fair to change the price of a product based on a person’s location, demographics, or even search history? No, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

Maryland’s First-in-Nation Ban on Grocery Surveillance Pricing Tests Retail Tech Limits

Maryland just became the first state to outlaw a pricing tactic that many shoppers never notice. The Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, signed into law by Governor Wes Moore, bars food retailers and third-party grocery delivery services from using personal consumer data to set individualized higher prices. The measure takes effect October 1, 2026. But industry insiders already question how much it will change daily operations at stores run b…