NYC Votes to Ban Prices Based on Personal Data

New York City’s Council approved a ban on surveillance pricing on November 12, targeting the use of personal data and algorithms to charge different customers different prices for the same goods or services, the Council announced [1].

Mayor Zohran Mamdani welcomed the move in a post on X, pointing to browsing history as one type of information companies use to personalize prices. He described the practice as banned in the city and joked that his message would remain unchanged in incognito mode [2].

When does the ban start?

The Council’s record lists Introduction 891-A at the mayor’s desk for signature. Its text sets the effective date one year after it becomes law [3].

Qualifying loyalty discounts remain permitted under disclosed conditions. Insurance and creditworthiness-based pricing have exceptions. Enforcement falls to the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, with civil penalties capped at $1,000 per violation; each affected consumer or transaction can count separately [3].

Discounts at the center of the debate

The measure passed 44–5, City & State reported. Council Speaker Julie Menin, its sponsor, rejected objections from companies including Uber that it could prevent some customer discounts. She argued that businesses could still offer discounts while being barred from mining personal data to charge different prices for identical purchases [4].

Sources: [1] NYC Council, 12 November 2026 · [2] NYC Mayor, 13 November 2026 UTC · [3] Introduction 891-A, approved 12 November 2026 · [4] City & State, 12 November 2026.