Credit: Getty Images.

Across our economy, powerful companies are using technology to study us, track us and secretly decide how much New Yorkers should pay for groceries, essential household items and other products. And too often, that means we are paying more for the basics we need to get by.

This is not innovation. It is exploitation.

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We are seeing this trend in grocery delivery apps, in ride-share fees and on online checkout screens. Algorithms now analyze where you live, what device you use, your spending habits, whether you’re a high-income earner, how often you shop and even whether you’re in a hurry, all to determine if they should charge you more. Two neighbors can buy the same item at the same moment but pay two different........

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