Should California retailers use your cellphone data to change prices?
calmatters.org
California lawmakers are backing a bill to ban using information like a cellphone’s battery life, model and geolocation data to set different prices

California lawmakers want to ban companies from using data about consumers’ devices like battery life, model and geolocation to set fluctuating prices. Proponents say such “surveillance pricing” is discriminatory.

    • paraphrand@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      22 days ago

      Yup, and all they had to do was automate millions of A B tests to figure out it’s effective. They can tweak and tune based on all sorts of data points.

    • douglasg14b@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      22 days ago

      In a well regulated economy where abuse potential is lower, there are lots of good reasons.

      If I’m developing a ride share app, battery level would be handy for a few reasons off the top of my head:

      1. Reduce rendering quality, animations, map clarity, go to dark mode…etc to reduce battery usage (ie. Automatic Low power mode).
        • Google maps does this when your device is overheating btw
      2. Increase priority levels for users who are at risk of running out their phones before their estimated arrival time
      3. Notify users that they may not have enough battery life, and advise them to switch their device to low power mode
      4. Prioritize blacking out the screen when sensors indicate the phone is facing down or is in a pocket.
  • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    4·
    22 days ago

    Wait, what? Are they using your device’s battery percentage to judge how desperate you are for a ride RIGHT NOW? Like, upcharge you if your phone is going to die?