Flex Statement | Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism Hearing, “Your Data, Their Profit: The Consumer Cost of AI Surveillance Pricing”

The following statement is for attribution to Flex CEO Kristin Sharp: 

“Policymakers, as well as consumers and media members, are understandably concerned about the use of AI-powered algorithms to adjust prices based on consumers’ personal data. I want to be clear that Flex member companies do not engage in surveillance pricing.” 

“Our member companies clearly and consistently disclose how pricing works on their platforms, from resources hosted publicly on their websites to in-app tap-to-learn icons that describe fees and pricing in accessible language.”

“Technological advancements have delivered enormous benefits to consumers. It is important that consumers feel confident that pricing practices are transparent and fair. Effective policy solutions require clarity about the problem being addressed, and that goal is undermined when fundamentally different practices are conflated with surveillance pricing. That is why Flex and its member companies stand ready to work with policymakers as they address surveillance pricing to ensure that we protect the discounts and promos customers love while prioritizing transparency.”  

CONTACT:       

media@flexassociation.org

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About Flex: Flex is the voice of the app-based economy, representing America's leading app-based rideshare and delivery platforms and the people who count on them. Our member companies — DoorDash, Grubhub, HopSkipDrive, Instacart, Lyft, Shipt and Uber— help provide access to crucial goods and services to customers safely and efficiently, offer flexible earning opportunities to workers and support economic growth in communities across the country