Lawsuit Allegations - Los Angeles is suing Airbnb for alleged price gouging after January's wildfires, claiming violations of anti-gouging laws on at least 2,000 rentals [1] - The city alleges Airbnb raised prices by 200%-300% (2 to 3 times) above the legal limit of 10% during the state of emergency [3][5] - The lawsuit includes allegations that Airbnb's algorithm, not just host choices, contributed to the price increases based on demand [3] - Los Angeles is also questioning the validity of Airbnb's "verified host" claims, suggesting some hosts have false identities or addresses [6][7] Airbnb's Response - Airbnb denies the accusations, stating it took action to inform hosts about their obligations regarding price increases during the state of emergency [1] - Airbnb claims to have sent a message on January 15th indicating that hosts attempting to price gouge would receive an error message [7] Legal Remedies Sought - Los Angeles is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Airbnb from charging illegal rental rates during states of emergency [10] - The city is demanding restitution, requiring Airbnb to refund the difference between the legal price and the inflated price to affected renters [10] - Los Angeles is also pursuing civil penalties against Airbnb for its alleged behavior [11] Market Share and Responsibility - Airbnb holds an 80% market share in Los Angeles, implying a significant responsibility to ensure fair practices [6]

We want to turn now to the business of artificial intelligence and a new push from Congress to protect consumers. For years, companies have collected your data to determine how to market you. Now, there are signs companies are using that same information not just to entice you to buy, but also to determine how much you pay.And one member of Congress thinks that should be illegal. NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles joins me with more. So Ryan, how does surveillance pricing work and what ca ...