EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Aug 30·5 min read
Algorithmic Rent-Pricing Litigation Expands Under New State and Local Laws
TL;DR
A surge in litigation against landlords using algorithmic rent-pricing tools is occurring due to new state and local laws. These regulations simplify liability paths and impose significant penalties for violations.
✦ Why It Matters
Review and document your software usage to ensure compliance with new local regulations today.
Key Takeaways
- Create an ordinance-effective-date matrix for compliance tracking.
- Document software functionality and data sources used for pricing.
- Assess local ordinances against your current practices.
- Identify potential class-period cutoffs for litigation defense.
Full Summary
Recent municipal regulations across the U.S. are targeting landlords who utilize algorithmic rent-pricing software, such as RealPage and Yardi, for potential antitrust violations. These laws, enacted in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Philadelphia, allow tenants to sue for damages and impose penalties for using prohibited algorithms that leverage nonpublic competitor data.
For instance, San Francisco's ordinance permits up to $1,000 in penalties per violation, with each month of use counting as a separate infraction. The litigation is building on the factual groundwork established in previous cases against RealPage, leading to a wave of follow-on claims.
As landlords adapt to these regulations, they must document their software usage and compliance to mitigate risks of litigation stemming from past practices.