We shouldn't let companies spy on us and then use that information to rip us off. Why do I even have to write this? Seriously? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Seems to be particularly an online purchasing problem. I don't think Sobeys is running around changing shelf stickers because I looked up something on Flipp, and the till doesn't know who I am until I show my loyalty card at the end of the transaction.
This suggest to me that we may want to search using one device and buy using another?
"In the long run, maintaining confidence and trust in our institutions is critical to maintaining the legitimacy of the government and state, and to preserve order."
That's why it's so important to preserve and enhance the public sector functions that have the greatest day-to-day contact with citizens, especially those unusual ones that meet us at our front doors multiple times per week.
If everyone has access to the internet and the search algorithms are not skewed then there should be a level playing field. Regulation of search engines is in order. If people could search on a trusted platform and know that the results give them accurate information then the free market system will work as it should.
I am not sure that the term ‘snitch pricing’ quite hits the mark.
If it were a non-like-minded country surveilling people, the term of choice might be ‘spying’.
If we lift the veil of tech and think of this as looking at your grocery list we might term it ‘invasion of privacy’ or ‘theft’ - as in the act of opening one’s mail or picking one’s pocket for information.
‘Snitch’ possibly has a more positive connotation- being similar to a to ‘whistleblower’ someone who brings forward information that supports the common good, good governance.
But usually ‘snitch’ is closer to the term ‘tattle tale’, a child who tells a parent or adult about some ‘mischief’ or ‘fib’.
Theft. This term resonates perhaps because of the presence of ‘price gouging’.
The already wealthy extracting from the public within on a customized personal transaction.
The term we are allowed to use for this ‘extraction’ has been discussed in a public forum- however,
no price regulation has been considered (please correct me if I am wrong.)
Theft has been normalized. By those who tell us GOVERNMENT IS BAD. INEFFICIENT….NO REGULATION. NO TAXES.
Endless criticism from a group who embrace ‘Endless Wars’
Criticism is easy when the ‘only way’ is their way. NEOLIBERALISM.
Theft. Neoliberalism is a dogma of theft.
Privatizing what was once a public good- yes, there are public goods even if they are owned privately.
Government is a public good. Peace, Order and Good Government.
Canada is a country that has considered government Good.
Neoliberalism, in the form of NAFTA was imposed, contrary to public will/opinion.
Canada was to be harmonized with USA government choices.
But not necessarily in our parliaments. In extra-jurisdictional tribunals; usually 🇨🇦lost to 🇺🇸(Elizabeth May drew this to our attention not to long ago 2025)
(N.B. Canada used this system to undermine other countries UN commitment to Green Transitions- 🇨🇦mining companies sued small communities for profits it could have made but was stopped by community pressure on their own government i.e.🇨🇦Gold mining in Greece. Bullies. 🇨🇦Government used the Rules base TRADING, not International Treaties or Agreements for private profit of Mining Corporates. )
War, 🇨🇦🇺🇸arms industrial complex was a Harper government project,
(YouTube interviews with Mr. Harper’s ‘woke’ comments harmonize the ‘culture wars’ issues that were American then imported to 🇨🇦)
joining Canada at the hip with the 🇺🇸Bush Jr administration - the rogue administration that practiced torture, launched an illegal war on false pretences.
Sadistic liars.
We have a new crew them.
Bad government, Government dis-assembling, Crooks.
Not dissimilar from your mild term, ‘snitches’.
It’s very important to make fine distinctions, of course.
My wife maintains that when she peruses a particular bigbox store online for big ticket items but doesn't buy, a few days later they turn up on sale (whereupon naturally, she swoops in for the kill, I mean click ...)
Personally, I find it hard to believe, but that's beside the point of my question: Is this form of surveillance pricing offside too?
If you find that the pricing isn't attractive at some particular site, isn't the best reaction to look elsewhere? Don't you think chronically unsuccessful sites will adapt? It's not like there's someone twisting your arm to buy there, right? Isn't the law of supply and demand a good thing?
Are we at the point where people need to be protected from their own disinclination to shop around? Or maybe just shop with their browser in privacy mode? (I assume cookies are how this information is gathered, but if you're truly paranoid, I suppose you could try shopping via VPN). Is the power imbalance really between smart shoppers and lazy ones?
Seems to be particularly an online purchasing problem. I don't think Sobeys is running around changing shelf stickers because I looked up something on Flipp, and the till doesn't know who I am until I show my loyalty card at the end of the transaction.
This suggest to me that we may want to search using one device and buy using another?
"In the long run, maintaining confidence and trust in our institutions is critical to maintaining the legitimacy of the government and state, and to preserve order."
That's why it's so important to preserve and enhance the public sector functions that have the greatest day-to-day contact with citizens, especially those unusual ones that meet us at our front doors multiple times per week.
Oh, wait ...
If everyone has access to the internet and the search algorithms are not skewed then there should be a level playing field. Regulation of search engines is in order. If people could search on a trusted platform and know that the results give them accurate information then the free market system will work as it should.
Governments need to Recognize that there are monopolies and oligopolies and regulate them as such as Adam Smith would have called for
I am not sure that the term ‘snitch pricing’ quite hits the mark.
If it were a non-like-minded country surveilling people, the term of choice might be ‘spying’.
If we lift the veil of tech and think of this as looking at your grocery list we might term it ‘invasion of privacy’ or ‘theft’ - as in the act of opening one’s mail or picking one’s pocket for information.
‘Snitch’ possibly has a more positive connotation- being similar to a to ‘whistleblower’ someone who brings forward information that supports the common good, good governance.
But usually ‘snitch’ is closer to the term ‘tattle tale’, a child who tells a parent or adult about some ‘mischief’ or ‘fib’.
Theft. This term resonates perhaps because of the presence of ‘price gouging’.
The already wealthy extracting from the public within on a customized personal transaction.
The term we are allowed to use for this ‘extraction’ has been discussed in a public forum- however,
no price regulation has been considered (please correct me if I am wrong.)
Theft has been normalized. By those who tell us GOVERNMENT IS BAD. INEFFICIENT….NO REGULATION. NO TAXES.
Endless criticism from a group who embrace ‘Endless Wars’
Criticism is easy when the ‘only way’ is their way. NEOLIBERALISM.
Theft. Neoliberalism is a dogma of theft.
Privatizing what was once a public good- yes, there are public goods even if they are owned privately.
Government is a public good. Peace, Order and Good Government.
Canada is a country that has considered government Good.
Neoliberalism, in the form of NAFTA was imposed, contrary to public will/opinion.
Canada was to be harmonized with USA government choices.
But not necessarily in our parliaments. In extra-jurisdictional tribunals; usually 🇨🇦lost to 🇺🇸(Elizabeth May drew this to our attention not to long ago 2025)
(N.B. Canada used this system to undermine other countries UN commitment to Green Transitions- 🇨🇦mining companies sued small communities for profits it could have made but was stopped by community pressure on their own government i.e.🇨🇦Gold mining in Greece. Bullies. 🇨🇦Government used the Rules base TRADING, not International Treaties or Agreements for private profit of Mining Corporates. )
War, 🇨🇦🇺🇸arms industrial complex was a Harper government project,
(YouTube interviews with Mr. Harper’s ‘woke’ comments harmonize the ‘culture wars’ issues that were American then imported to 🇨🇦)
joining Canada at the hip with the 🇺🇸Bush Jr administration - the rogue administration that practiced torture, launched an illegal war on false pretences.
Sadistic liars.
We have a new crew them.
Bad government, Government dis-assembling, Crooks.
Not dissimilar from your mild term, ‘snitches’.
It’s very important to make fine distinctions, of course.
But the essence rings true, ‘crooks’.
Deleted now. I don’t want to take up more space than intended. I appreciate your thoughtful manners. Carrie
Thank you Mark. I thought I was editing correctly. Will take down duplication
My wife maintains that when she peruses a particular bigbox store online for big ticket items but doesn't buy, a few days later they turn up on sale (whereupon naturally, she swoops in for the kill, I mean click ...)
Personally, I find it hard to believe, but that's beside the point of my question: Is this form of surveillance pricing offside too?
If you find that the pricing isn't attractive at some particular site, isn't the best reaction to look elsewhere? Don't you think chronically unsuccessful sites will adapt? It's not like there's someone twisting your arm to buy there, right? Isn't the law of supply and demand a good thing?
Are we at the point where people need to be protected from their own disinclination to shop around? Or maybe just shop with their browser in privacy mode? (I assume cookies are how this information is gathered, but if you're truly paranoid, I suppose you could try shopping via VPN). Is the power imbalance really between smart shoppers and lazy ones?