{"id":65777,"date":"2026-08-04T16:27:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T20:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=65777"},"modified":"2026-08-04T16:27:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T20:27:49","slug":"ufcw-testifies-at-senate-hearing-on-the-cost-of-surveillance-pricing-to-consumers-and-workers","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/ufcw-testifies-at-senate-hearing-on-the-cost-of-surveillance-pricing-to-consumers-and-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"UFCW Testifies at Senate Hearing on the Cost of Surveillance Pricing to Consumers and Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UFCW serves as a witness for Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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After New Jersey passes first ban on electronic shelf labels and surveillance pricing, federal lawmakers recognize the danger of these technologies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong>  \u2013 <\/strong>Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union<\/a><\/strong>, which represents 1.2 million essential workers across the United States and Canada, testified at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism\u2019s hearing: \u201cYour Data, Their Profit: The Consumer Cost of AI Surveillance Pricing<\/a>.\u201d UFCW Policy Counsel Hillary Caron served as a witness for the subcommittee, led by Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and exposed the damaging effects of surveillance pricing and electronic shelf labels on consumers and workers in grocery stores. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In her opening statement, Hillary Caron, policy counsel at the UFCW International Union,<\/strong> testified:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cOn their own, ESLs [electronic shelf labels] are merely a piece of hardware to display prices. The problem is that they are not used on their own. They are connected to stores\u2019 inventory systems, point of sale systems, and pricing systems, which use consumer data and AI to set prices in a way that maximizes profits. They can even be connected to cameras and sensors that track you as you move through the store, capturing how long you look at an item and showing you personalized ads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cGroceries are a necessity, not a luxury. Companies should not be able to use your online history, past purchases, or location information to charge you a higher price for the food your family needs to live.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Email press@ufcw.org<\/a> to speak with a spokesperson about the threat that ESLs and surveillance pricing pose to fair grocery prices and good, union jobs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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