The Hidden Algorithm Deciding What You Pay

What if companies could figure out the exact maximum you’re willing to pay, and charge you exactly that?That’s the promise of surveillance pricing: using your personal data, purchase history, location, online behavior, and even financial information to tailor prices specifically to you.In this episode, Cara Stern talks with Vass Bednar, managing director of the Canadian Shield Institute and author of The Big Fix, about why this issue is suddenly on the political agenda in Canada, and what it means for consumers.They discuss:What surveillance pricing is, and how it differs from ordinary dynamic pricingHow companies use your data to predict your “willingness to pay”Why two people could see different prices for the exact same productThe real-world examples already happening with apps, airlines, and delivery platformsWhy 83% of Canadians say this practice should be banned or regulatedWhat governments can actually do to stop itChapters:Research/links:Everything Costs More Because the Algorithm Says So | The Walrushttps://thewalrus.ca/everything-costs-more-because-the-algorithm-says-so/How Corporate Consolidation is Ruining Everything: Discussion with Denise Hearn and Vass Bednarhttps://youtu.be/Uz5DkpZPH2k?si=M_c-2GX4dS7wKF9lCanadians Are Skeptical of Algorithmic Pricing - Abacus Datahttps://abacusdata.ca/canadians-are-deeply-skeptical-of-algorithmic-pricing-and-want-governments-to-intervene/AI-Driven Pricing May Be the Next Shock to Canadian Grocery Shoppershttps://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2025/12/ai-driven-pricing-may-be-the-next-shock-to-canadian-grocery-shoppers/Algorithms are raising prices for everything. This must stop - The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-algorithms-are-raising-prices-for-everything-this-must-stop/Avi Lewis is smart to shed light on surveillance pricing | Canada's National Observer: Climate Newshttps://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/24/news/avi-lewis-ndp-surveillance-pricingAlgorithmic pricing: Poll finds half of Canadians againsthttps://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/03/18/most-canadians-want-to-ban-or-regulate-algorithmic-pricing-poll-shows/?lid=8z3lanxo654aHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina MaddeauxProduced by Meredith MartinFunded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/