Big data is transforming how landlords price apartment rents, raising ethical and legal questions. Two firms, RealPage and Yardi Systems, provide algorithmic pricing systems that analyze vast amounts of rental market data. These algorithms advise landlords on setting or increasing rents, sometimes even suggesting higher rents at the cost of higher vacancy rates. However, these companies now face lawsuits alleging their software facilitates collusion among large apartment owners by sharing confidential pricing information. This purportedly diminishes market competition and drives up rents for tenants. The U.S. Justice Department is also scrutinizing whether such algorithms unlawfully inflate rents. As technology continues to influence traditional industries, it’s essential to consider its wider societal implications. https://lnkd.in/g2i9Psy9