Kroger Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Use of Facial Recognition and Surge Pricing

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib raises concerns about Kroger's electronic shelf labels and potential misuse of technology in stores.

Kroger has been using electronic shelf labels (ESLs) since 2018 to streamline price updates and inventory management.
Concerns have been raised by lawmakers, including Tlaib, Warren, and Casey, about the potential for ESLs to facilitate dynamic pricing, though Kroger denies any such plans.
Kroger and Microsoft ended a pilot program involving facial recognition technology, and Kroger asserts it has never used such technology in stores.
Lawmakers have questioned the protection of consumer data and the potential for biased price discrimination through targeted advertising.
Kroger maintains that its business model focuses on lowering prices and denies any engagement in surge pricing practices.