Georgia Senate Bill SB164

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/13/25

Caption

Trade Practices; surveillance based price discrimination and surveillance based wage discrimination; prohibit

Impact

The implementation of SB164 is expected to significantly impact current trade practices by imposing rules that govern how businesses can use data collected through surveillance to set prices or wages. The bill includes provisions that allow the Attorney General to enforce penalties against violations, establishing civil penalties that may reach up to $10,000 per infringement. The creation of these penalties intends to deter entities from engaging in such discriminatory practices and provides aggrieved individuals with the means to pursue civil action for damages.

Summary

Senate Bill 164 addresses the pressing issue of surveillance based discrimination within trade practices, focusing on both price and wage discrimination. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of automated decision systems to set prices or wages based on surveillance data about individuals, asserting the need for fairness and transparency in economic transactions. By establishing definitions for key terms such as 'surveillance based price discrimination' and 'surveillance based wage discrimination', the bill provides a legal framework to address these forms of discrimination without undermining legitimate pricing practices based on cost differentials or legal insurers' assessments.

Contention

While proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary step towards protecting consumers and workers from unfair practices, critics contend that it may impose burdens on businesses, particularly those reliant on data analytics for pricing strategies. The balance struck by SB164 between restricting discrimination and allowing for valid business practices will be crucial. As state regulators work to enact the bill's provisions, discussions around its enforcement and the potential for businesses to challenge its implications are likely to surface in public forums.