Justin Brookman

Eric Gardner, former grocery pricing consultant turned business reporter, and Justin Brookman, Consumer Reports marketplace policy director, dig into surveillance pricing on apps like Instacart. They describe how researchers tested price variation, the tech and patents behind targeted experiments, legal and regulatory pushback, and what shoppers can do to spot and respond to hidden price differences.

Justin Brookman, Director of Consumer Privacy and Technology Policy at Consumer Reports and former FTC employee, dives deep into the murky waters of consumer data privacy in the U.S. He reveals the alarming lack of nationwide regulations, with states stepping in to fill the gap. The conversation touches on the FTC's impending actions against Facebook and discusses the potential for a federal privacy overhaul. Brookman also highlights the privacy challenges posed by smart home devices and the hidden costs of software updates that consumers face. A vital discussion for tech-savvy listeners!