Exactly. As with the ongoing RealPage case, all the 'algorithm' and 'AI' stuff is just a system designed to enable price collusion without landlords directly talking to each other.
It's just like Uber, Airbnb, and the rest of the tech world. As it turns out most of the technology we've built doesn't really help people at all... we've given corporations new ways to collude or evade regulations causing immense harm to our society. All we've done is help companies break the law and get rich at the expense of the people. And our stupid governments won't even hold them accountable.
The tech behind Uber is fantastic. Its the way it was used that is nasty. Similarly with AirBnB. If AirBnB had restricted the use of its platform to people wanting to rent out a room in their house or their apartment it would have been much better.
But I completely agree with you, a lot of the tech has been hugely detrimental to the public. And the government do no oversight.