Paying individuals for their personal data in smart cities like The Line could potentially deepen existing societal inequalities. Those who are willing to share more data or have access to technologies that generate valuable data may benefit financially, creating a two-tier system where some people's information is deemed more profitable than others. This could further exacerbate the digital divide and widen the gap between those who can monetize their data and those who cannot. Additionally, offering financial incentives for personal data may normalize the practice of selling private information for profit, raising ethical concerns about privacy and consent.