<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/17/imperfect-match-australian-renters-in-the-dark-over-use-of-data-by-tech-company-snug>
"One of Australia’s fastest growing rental application platforms is using
renters’ data in obscure and potentially discriminatory ways to “score” their
applications against rental properties, and gives them a higher score when they
offer to pay more rent, a
Guardian Australia investigation has found.
Snug, which serves as an intermediary between renters and real estate agents,
denies that it facilitates rental bidding. It claims its mission is to “make
renting easier” thanks to a platform designed “to facilitate a better
relationship between renters and agents”. It says it believes “transparent
rental relationships result in better outcomes for all parties”.
But the company’s use of renters’ data is far from transparent, and its
relationship to one of Australia’s biggest sharehousing Facebook groups has
exacerbated privacy concerns. One expert described Snug’s technology as a
“troubling” development in “landlord tech”, and renters’ advocates have urged
tougher regulation."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
