Democratic senators are investigating whether Realpage, a programming company accused of collusion with the owners in order to raise rents, lobbyed for the proposed ban on states regulating artificial intelligence for the next decade. IN Letter to the CEO of Realpage, Dana JonesFive democratic senators-elizabeth Warren (D-ma), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tina Smith (D-MN)-will be more information about more information about the “potential involvement of the company” in the decision program “in the decision program in the 10 years.
Senators say that the provision may lead to stop Realpage from feeding sensitive information from the owners’ groups to the algorithm and to use it to recommend unconceptive rental prices.
In 2022, Report with Propubrica Combined Realpage with rising rent prices in the USA, claiming that its algorithm allows owners to coordinate prices. The Department of Justice and Eight States sued the company last year, claiming that “deprives tenants of the benefits of competition under leasing conditions.” Meanwhile, cities like MinneapolisIN Jersey CityIN Philadelphia and San Francisco They adopted provisions to prohibit the exploit of rents and several states, including ConnecticutIN New YorkIN MassachusettsAND Washingtonhave regulations in work.
“Republicans are trying to give the green airy to the Realpage rental algorithm.”
At the moment, senators say that the Act on the budget reconciliation of the Republican would block expecting regulations and stop the state from enforcing any regulations that cause restrictions on the algorithm of establishing the Realpage rent. The Act proposes to prevent the enforcement countries of “any right or regulations” covering a wide range of automatic computer systems that would probably apply to the algorithms used by Realpage.
And although the most famous supporters of the moratorium are giants like OpenAI, legislators believe that Realpage could spend millions of emphasis on it. “In the airy of this, we are looking for information about Realpage lobbying and how the decision to reconcile Republicans would facilitate the lower Realpage line and other gigantic corporations, enabling them to exploit consumers,” says the letter.
Senators say that Realpage has “accelerated” Congress lobbying in response to local regulations that would affect its activities. Quoting Report with Leverwho stated that the National Multi -family housing council, the Realpage trading group, increased lobbying expenses from $ 4.8 million in 2020. up to $ 9 million in 2024. Lever It was also found that the trading group revealed that it lobbyed in “issues related to the risk and opportunities created by artificial intelligence”, as well as “federal policies affecting the exploit of data, artificial intelligence, software” and other technologies used in real estate.
“Realpage has increased the expenditure campaign in millions of dollars in Congress and LO and here are Republicans in Congress The Verge. “Americans are squeezed with growing rents, but instead of helping, Republicans try to give the green light to the Realpage algorithm.”
Senators asked Realpage how much money the company spent on congress lobbying each year from 2020, as well as which companies and people with whom he “engaged or concluded” at the same time. They also want to know how much he spent on lobbying addressed to the provisions regarding AI, as well as how Realpage would be influenced by the Act on budget reconciliation in the states with expecting provisions on software for determining the rent. Senators ask Realpage for a response until June 10, 2025.
If it is adopted, the Act-now awaiting consideration in the Senate-can have much wider effects than the Realpage. In addition to blocking countries before regulating AI chatbots, this can also affect any provisions covering such things as deep cabinets, automated employment systems, face recognition, convictions and many others.