
RealPage has filed a lawsuit against the city of Berkeley in an effort to block the upcoming ban on algorithmic rental pricing scheduled for April 12th. The tech company claims that the ban infringes upon their First Amendment rights, alleging that the prohibition is “unconstitutional” and “stifles innovation.”
Berkeley’s decision to ban the use of algorithms in determining rent prices has been met with criticism from some in the real estate industry, who argue that it will lead to a lack of transparency in the rental market. However, proponents of the ban claim that such pricing practices can exacerbate existing issues of housing inequality and social injustice.
In its lawsuit, RealPage is seeking an immediate temporary restraining order to block the enforcement of the ban until the court has fully reviewed the matter. The company argues that any restrictions on their ability to utilize algorithms in determining rent prices will have a significant impact on their business operations, potentially leading to financial losses and damage to their reputation.
It remains unclear how the courts will ultimately rule on this issue, but one thing is certain: landlords and tenants alike are watching this legal battle closely.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/realpage-sues-berkeley-over-ban-on-algorithmic-rental-pricing-2000585947