this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2026
87 points (89.9% liked)

Privacy

49846 readers
645 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
k_o_t@lemmy.ml
tmpod@lemmy.pt
Yayannick@lemmy.ml
ranok@sopuli.xyz
87
📺 How I Tricked Big Tech’s AI Pricing Algorithms to Save $8,793 (youtu.be)
submitted 8 hours ago by davel@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
12 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Most of the things you interact with online are tracking your location, your device type, and your digital footprint to predict exactly how desperate you are to buy something. If the algorithm thinks you have money, or simply lack options, it alters the price in real-time.

To prove how widespread "surveillance pricing" has become, I decided to see if I could outsmart it. This involved exploiting corporate registry loopholes to create a fake corporate entity, hiring an improv actor off Craigslist to establish a completely separate digital identity, and strapping a burner phone to a drone to make purchases from the airspace above the wealthiest gated community in Minnesota.

top 12 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Lumelore@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I live in Minnesota and use GrapheneOS with IronFox and uBlock, NoScript, and Privacy Badger. My desktop is Debian with librewolf and the same extensions.

I decided to check Spam prices at various Targets on both my phone and desktop. I don't typically shop at Target, though I do have an account with them but I haven't logged in in years. I was also not logged in for the testing.

I tried at my local Target and a few around the cities and got the same prices regardless of being on mobile or desktop. Only difference was between stores with prices ranging between $4.69 and $5.59.

I did not physically go anywhere different during this test, nor did I use a VPN, so that may have been why I was getting the same prices on both devices. I also really don't know how much Target actually knows about me other than my IP and that I block stuff.

[–] SourDrink@lemmy.world 9 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I recently learned about fingerprinting.

https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/

[–] Lumelore@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 hours ago

Yeah that's why I use what I use. I've checked that before and as long as I have JS disabled I'm at 1/1134 which is a pretty good score. Although sometimes you have to unblock sites to get them to work, so ¯\(ツ)/¯. Although at least webgl can be blocked separately.

[–] humble_boatsman@sh.itjust.works 17 points 6 hours ago (4 children)

This is one of my biggest reasons for increasing my data privacy journey. Does anybody have any info/ opnions on whether creating a data vacuum through VPN usage and degoogling affects your digital footprint in terms of these surveillance pricing?

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 12 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I’d also like to know. Sellers can know when you’re using a popular VPN service or have DeGoogled, but I don’t know how they may use that information. Perhaps they’ll try to punish you into submission by jacking prices to the moon or refusing to serve their website altogether. Reddit and some other sites already block VPNs.

There will never be a silver bullet, because this will be an endless arms race between sellers and savvy consumers.

[–] FineCoatMummy@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 hours ago

Does anybody have any info/ opnions on whether creating a data vacuum through VPN usage and degoogling affects your digital footprint in terms of these surveillance pricing?

Info no. Opinions yes!

It make sense to me, that if you lack a big digital footprint, they will give the highest price.

They always call these discounts, not extra fees. Put the tracker in your car, get cheaper car insurance! Use our club card, enjoy discounted groceries! They don't call it an extra cost if you don't. Even though it's mathematically the same! I think there may even be a legal difference. There is certainly a psychological difference between "you get charged extra" which nobody wants, and "get a discount". Yayyyy! Who doesn't enjoy a discount???

Also, they want to make the attractive choice, the one that gives them the most data. So they will crank up the pain for ppl who opt out of the surveilence.

There is a glimmer of hope tho! Basically NOBODY likes this suveilence pricing. There are 24 US states that have pending bills to ban the practice. Maryland have passed theirs already. This is another case where writing to our reps makes a difference.

[–] goatmeal@midwest.social 2 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

The truth is no one except those inside the companies determining pricing really knows. And it can change at anytime if they find some new price discrimination data point to exploit. In the video they say it basically comes down to a desperation score.

My guess/sense at this moment is that it’s slightly better as the type of person willing to learn and explore the privacy options and settings and have a little extra income to put towards them will be aware of shopping alternatives and therefore have a lower desperation score

[–] ropatrick@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

Super question. 👍🏼

[–] helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago

That's the most clickbaity title and thumbnail I've seen here in a while.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 18 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

I don’t think this guy has hacked surveillance pricing in ways that are practicably replicable, but his video has piqued my curiosity.

Edit to add: There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of evidence-based, practical advice currently, except to shop in physical stores and to comparison shop. https://www.kqed.org/news/12088157/surveillance-pricing-is-making-life-more-expensive-heres-how-it-works-and-what-you-can-do

[–] ropatrick@lemmy.world 22 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Completely un-replicable. There's just no way my drone will reach Minnesota from Ireland.

I'll get my coat...

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 1 points 2 hours ago

Nah - all you have to do is join the Ukraine army, & you'll have access to drones that can do what was once thought impossible.