New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to Instacart demanding information about its use of algorithmic pricing, after a study found users were charged up to 23% more for identical products. The AG warned that Instacart’s pricing disclosures are non-compliant with New York’s Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act, which requires prominent notices near product prices when personal data is used to set prices. Instacart must provide details on its pricing experiments, automated tools, and compliance efforts with the state’s disclosure requirements.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor, retail partner, and third-party pricing tool provider agreements for clauses related to algorithmic or surveillance pricing practices. Contracts should explicitly require compliance with state algorithmic pricing disclosure laws, including prominent placement of required notices near product prices when personal data is used for price setting. Teams should also ensure agreements prohibit undisclosed price experiments using consumer personal data and outline clear data use restrictions for pricing purposes. Additionally, any contracts involving automated pricing tools should mandate audit rights to verify compliance with disclosure and data use requirements.
Entity
Instacart
Industry
Food DeliveryOfficial Press Release
https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-demands-answers-instacart-about-algorithmic-pricing
letter to instacart on pricing practices letters 2026
https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/letters/letter-to-instacart-on-pricing-practices-letters-2026.pdf
New York Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://ag.ny.gov/press-releases
"Instacart"
"January 8, 2026"
"New York Attorney General Letitia James"
"sent a letter to online grocery shopping platform Instacart demanding more information"
"New York’s recent Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act"
"algorithmic pricing, also known as surveillance pricing"
New York Attorney General Letitia James obtained a temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California blocking Paramount Skydance Corp.'s proposed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. The lawsuit alleges the merger would illegally reduce competition in film and television, leading to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.
$18.0M
New York Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan coalition of 42 other attorneys general secured an $18 million settlement from genetic testing company 23andMe for failing to protect customers' private genetic data. The October 2023 data breach exposed sensitive genetic information of 6.9 million consumers, including 305,245 in New York, with some data published for sale on the dark web. The settlement includes monetary penalties and new data protection requirements for the company and its successor, 23andMe Research Institute.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and 11 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block the proposed $110 billion merger between Paramount Skydance Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., alleging the merger would violate antitrust law by reducing competition in theatrical film releases and basic cable television markets, leading to higher prices for consumers and fewer diverse entertainment options.
New York Attorney General Letitia James sued 3M, DuPont, and other chemical companies for knowingly causing decades of PFAS pollution through consumer products. The lawsuit alleges the companies hid toxicity risks, failed to warn the public, and seeks cleanup funding, damages, and injunctive relief.
New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general in submitting comments to the FCC urging stronger rules to combat illegal robocalls. The coalition recommends expanding the definition of telephone number resellers, prohibiting resale of certain numbers, and requiring mandatory education for companies selling phone numbers. This is a regulatory advocacy action, not a direct enforcement action against a specific company.
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued guidance to New Yorkers donating to Venezuela earthquake relief, warning about fraudulent charities and scams. The guidance provides tips on verifying charities, avoiding phishing, and reporting suspicious organizations.