Discussion keeps the world turning.
Loyalty can be expensive, and for years,
platforms have used our personal data to test how much we are willing to spend.
But a crackdown has begun.
From China to New York, new laws are prying open that algorithmic black box,
and forcing a bold disclosure, this price may vary.
We'll explore whether transparency can actually stop the secret math of personalized pricing.
We're live from Beijing.
This is Round Table.
I'm Steve.
Thanks very much for being with us today and for the show I'm with Yohong Lin and Yu Shan.
First up, ever get that nagging feeling that being too loyal online is actually costing you money?
Well that's the feeling when the more you shop,
the more you click and the more you book, the higher that price seems to climb.
Well, you're not imagining it.
And we've actually flagged this problem before that for years,
loyal users of an online platform often pay more than first timers.
But now it's back in the spotlight
because the algorithmic black box is finally being opened from China rolling out tough new rules on data driven price differences to New York,
passing a landmark law that forces platforms to come clean with an in your face disclosure.