Technology (Consumer Data Protection)

This bill prohibits retail sellers from using artificial intelligence or automated systems to set personalized prices for consumer goods based on individual customer data. It defines consumer goods as packaged items for personal use and dynamic price gouging as customized pricing generated through computational models that process consumer information. Retailers who violate this rule could face warnings, civil forfeiture of up to $10,000, or legal injunctions from state authorities. The law applies to both online and in-person sales of everyday products like groceries and household items.

AB 575 prohibits all state agencies and local governmental units (like cities, counties, or school districts) from using facial recognition technology or its data, except to identify their own employees for employment-related purposes. The bill defines facial recognition technology as an automated system that compares camera footage of faces against databases to find matches. It directly affects government entities that currently use or plan to use this technology for public services, law enforcement, or other operations. The law creates a clear ban on its use for public identification, with only the narrow exception for internal employee verification.