US alleges software scheme to raise rent prices [Video]

US prosecutors unveiled sweeping antitrust charges Friday against a property management software company that they allege employs algorithms to enable collusion among landlords, harming renters across numerous US markets.

The Department of Justice, joined by eight US states, filed a civil lawsuit against Texas-based RealPage, which maintains an alleged “monopoly” over commercial revenue management software, according to a DOJ press release.

RealPage vowed to “vigorously” fight the suit, which it described as groundless.

The complaint, filed in US court in North Carolina, alleges that RealPage’s algorithmic software takes real-time pricing inputs and projects vacancies and other sensitive non-public data from competing landlords. The software then generates pricing recommendations, allowing landlords to charge more than they otherwise would, harming consumers.

The suit marks the first time US prosecutors have targeted anticompetitive behavior centered on computer algorithms, a US DOJ official said.

Attorney General Merrick Garland described RealPage’s conduct as “classic price …