The Federal Trade Commission has ordered nine companies to explain how they use personal data to set prices and gig-worker pay. For once, “tell us a little about yourself” is addressed to the company.

The orders cover airlines, retailers and delivery platforms. The FTC wants to know whether information such as loyalty membership affects what customers pay, and whether a driver’s phone use or history of accepting jobs affects their compensation. It is studying the practices, not announcing that all nine companies have done something wrong.

Delta says it does not target customers with individualized offers based on personal data. Instacart says shopper compensation uses job-related factors and that it does not use customers’ personal information to set prices. Good. The agency has brought paperwork, which should help distinguish a reassuring answer from a reassuring font.

Companies that refuse to supply the information could face a federal court order, AP reports. There is no little X in the corner to make this request go away.

The Daily Heckler

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