Apple will pay up to $95 to some US iPhone buyers to settle a class action lawsuit filed last year. Plaintiffs claimed Apple misled consumers by advertising Apple Intelligence features that many iPhone models could not actually use. The payout applies only to eligible users who meet specific criteria.

Source: BBC Tech

Dynamic pricing, or surveillance pricing, refers to a business model in which retailers use AI algorithms to personalize product prices based on consumers’ purchase history, browsing behavior, demographic data, and even real-time location. Critics argue that this pricing model is essentially a form of covert price discrimination, where different consumers may pay vastly different prices for the same product at the same store and time.

Maryland’s new law explicitly prohibits grocery retailers from using such AI-driven pricing systems. Once enacted, supermarkets and convenience stores in the state will be required to adopt a uniform pricing system for all consumers, without differentiated pricing based on personal data.

The backdrop to this legislation is the rapid proliferation of AI pricing technology in the US retail industry in recent years. Industry reports indicate that more than one-third of large US retailers are already testing or using some form of dynamic pricing system. Some systems can automatically adjust prices within minutes based on factors such as weather conditions, inventory levels, and consumer behavior.

Consumer protection organizations have welcomed the law. They argue that AI pricing not only violates consumers’ right to know and fair trading rights, but may also have a disproportionate negative impact on low-income groups — as algorithms tend to charge higher prices to consumers who are less price-sensitive.

However, retail industry associations have raised questions about the law. They argue that dynamic pricing helps optimize inventory management, reduce waste, and ultimately provide lower base prices for consumers.

Analysts suggest that Maryland’s law could prompt other states to follow suit. California, New York, and Illinois already have similar legislative proposals under consideration. If more states pass similar laws, the AI pricing industry could face nationwide regulatory pressure.

Source: The New York Times - Maryland Is First to Ban A.I.-Driven Price Increases in Grocery Stores

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released new data on April 27 revealing that American consumers reported losses of $2.1 billion to social media-related scams in 2025, setting a new record. The figure underscores the growing challenge that social media platforms face in combating financial fraud.

According to TechCrunch, the data was compiled from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, which aggregates fraud complaints from across the country. The most common forms of social media fraud include fake investment schemes, phishing through impersonated customer service accounts, romance scams, and frauds leveraging AI-generated deepfake content.

The report noted a roughly 35% increase in social media scam losses compared to 2024. Notably, the share of scams using AI-generated fake identities and content has risen significantly. Scammers are increasingly deploying deepfake videos and voice-cloning technology to impersonate public figures or victims’ friends and family, thereby building trust and extracting funds.

The director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection stated: “Social media scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with criminals leveraging artificial intelligence and big data tools to precisely target potential victims. We urge the public to exercise extreme caution when it comes to any money-related transactions on social media platforms.”

The report also found that Gen Z and millennials are the primary victims of social media scams, correlating with younger demographics’ heavy reliance on these platforms. The most frequently reported scam vectors include Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).

In response, several major social media platforms have pledged to strengthen their anti-fraud measures. Experts recommend that users enable two-factor authentication, exercise caution with unsolicited investment advice, and verify the source of any transfer requests. Meanwhile, lawmakers are pushing for stricter social media platform liability regulations that would require platforms to proactively monitor and remove fraudulent content.

Source: TechCrunch, FTC