President Biden’s Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against RealPage last week. RealPage is a management tool used by landlords to assess the rents of the properties they own. The DOJ claims it violates antitrust law because use of the software constitutes a form of collusion that unfairly benefits landlords. The measure is part of the Democrats’ new strategy to place the economy under the control of liberal bureaucrats. Kamala Harris’s much-maligned price control proposals are part of the same deal.

The DOJ’s lawsuit was joined by eight state AGs, seven of whom are liberal Democrats. (Two other Democrat AGs filed separate lawsuits.) The lone Republican in the mix is Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. The conservative joined far-left AGs from states such as California, Minnesota, and Oregon in the lawsuit against RealPage. Skrmetti claims this is a bipartisan effort to protect consumers, yet he’s the only one making it “bipartisan.”

In reality, it’s a very partisan effort that some conservatives may be duped into supporting. Many conservatives upset with the excesses of woke megacorporations have taken an interest in antitrust law. However, this interest can lead conservatives to rely on the far-left for ideas and back terrible policies. The efforts against real estate algorithms exemplify this risk.

Right now, ordinary Americans suffer from the high costs of living. Whether paying rent or shopping for groceries, voters feel the pinch and are inclined to blame the party in charge of the White House. They are right to do so. When it comes to skyrocketing housing prices, the Biden administration deserves much of the blame. The current president oversaw a dramatic increase in government spending, which boosted inflation. Biden implemented several regulations that have imposed new costs on the housing market. Additionally, his refusal to control the border has brought millions of new “tenants” to bloat the market.

Instead of addressing these problems, Democrats prefer to blame an algorithm that helps businesses set prices that align with the market. This lawsuit doesn’t solve any of the housing problems created by Democrats, but it’s easier to go after RealPage.

Populist-inclined conservatives could be open to this line. They see the harm caused by Google, Microsoft, and other woke corporations that utilize their power to crush competition and spread a left-wing message. But the situation with RealPage is different. RealPage is used across the rental industry and is not the sole domain of one company. It’s simply a tool used by many different entities. According to experts, the lawsuit utilizes a radical interpretation of antitrust law that could harm the economy.

“The antitrust case against RealPage is an extreme application of antitrust law that threatens to harm innovation and economic growth,” antitrust consultant Jay Ezrielev wrote in a recent essay. “Applied more broadly, the theory would raise considerable obstacles for the commercial use of algorithms, proprietary data, and artificial intelligence, resulting in significant harm to innovation and efficient operation of markets. Moreover, the DOJ’s opposition to the use of RealPage’s revenue management software will not make rental markets more competitive but may instead reduce the supply of housing and make housing less affordable.

“Blaming high prices and rental costs on tech is just an attempt to cover up for Biden-Harris’s failed policies,” Adam Candeub, a technology and telecom law professor at Michigan State University, told Breitbart. He added that RealPage’s services provide accurate information about the market, which increases competition. Utilizing antitrust law runs counter to the spirit of the law and imposes unnecessary restrictions on business.

The groups involved in the efforts against RealPage should give pause to conservatives. They include George Soros-funded operations and a left-wing law firm that partners with the NAACP, the ACLU, and gun control groups. Democrats in Congress have their own bill addressing this alleged issue. It’s already earned the full endorsement of Kamala Harris.

Making common cause with these figures doesn’t seem the wise choice.

Conservatives shouldn’t mindlessly support corporate interests, but they should be careful about adopting seemingly populist ideas that go against sound principles. The DOJ’s lawsuit is nothing more than a left-wing attempt to punish fair business practices to distract the public from Democrats’ own failures. Republicans shouldn’t lend their stature to make it appear “bipartisan.” Jonathan Skrmetti’s decision to do so just helps out the left.