Airbnb controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2025
Political concerns surrounding Joe Gebbia’s government role
Joe Gebbia’s participation in the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency generated calls from critics for an Airbnb boycott. The controversy concerned the political implications of a co-founder and board member taking that role.
2022
China data and Xinjiang listing criticism
Airbnb faced criticism over Chinese regulatory data requirements and allegations that listings were available on land associated with a sanctioned Chinese state-linked organization. The company later discontinued domestic China listings.
2022
Airbnb settles OFAC case over Cuba embargo violations
Settlement
Airbnb agreed to pay US$91,172.29 to settle its potential civil liability for apparent violations of US sanctions against Cuba, including accepting certain reservations and failing to keep required records. OFAC said Airbnb disclosed the potential violations and cooperated.
Company response
Ongoing disclosure — Airbnb
Remediation — Airbnb
Airbnb has put in place new “sanctions compliance” measures to prevent residents in Cuba from using the platform as guests and a screening process to ensure Cuban hosts are not government officials or communist Party members, among other steps.
Source excerpt
The payment subsidiary of vacation rental company Airbnb Inc. has agreed to settle allegations it violated U.S. sanctions against Cuba, the Treasury Department said Monday.
The violations included accepting reservations from guests traveling to the island outside the current 12 authorised categories and failing to keep certain records.
The vacation rental company’s payment unit has agreed to remit more than $91,000 as part of the settlement with the Treasury Department
2021
Capitol attack booking response
Airbnb initially permitted some Washington-area bookings by people connected with the January 6 Capitol attack, then announced a regional booking ban before the presidential inauguration amid concern about further violence.
2021
Paris court fines Airbnb over unregistered rental listings
Ruling
A Paris court ordered Airbnb to pay an eight-million-euro fine over more than 1,000 listings that lacked required rental registration numbers. The ruling concerns a case filed in 2019. The court's decision addressed the absence of the required registration numbers on those listings, and the fine was set at eight million euros. The case had been filed in 2019, and the ruling was issued in this matter.
Source excerpt
Paris has won a major court fight against Airbnb after a court ordered the home-sharing giant to pay an eight million euro fine for allowing over 1,000 listings to flout rules to register their rentals.
2021
Paris court fines Airbnb over unregistered listings
Fine or penalty
In 2021, a Paris court ordered Airbnb to pay an eight million euro fine over more than 1,000 listings that lacked required registration numbers. The ruling concerned listings on the platform that did not carry the registration numbers required under the applicable rules. In response, Airbnb said it would require Paris landlords to prove their apartments were registered with city hall. The case centered on the absence of required registration numbers for the listings cited by the court, and the company's stated response was to impose a proof-of-registration requirement on Paris hosts.
Company response
Remediation — Airbnb
Airbnb had said earlier Thursday that it will now require Paris landlords to prove their apartments have been registered with city hall.
Source excerpt
Airbnb had said earlier Thursday that it will now require Paris landlords to prove their apartments have been registered with city hall.
Paris won a major court fight against Airbnb on Thursday after a court ordered the home-sharing giant to pay an eight million euro ($9.5 million) fine for allowing over 1,000 listings to flout registration rules.
Airbnb, the popular marketplace for vacation rentals. According to the court, the tech company has failed to comply with local regulation when it comes to listing your apartment on the platform. Airbnb should pay $9.6 million (€8.08 million) to the city of Paris.
2021
Airbnb listings in Xinjiang draw human-rights criticism
Issue disclosure
The article reported that 14 Airbnb listings were on land associated with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which it said had been sanctioned by the United States and was involved in forced labor against Uyghurs. Senator Marco Rubio called on Airbnb to remove the listings and withdraw its Beijing Winter Olympics sponsorship. Airbnb responded that China accounted for a small part of its revenue and was important to connecting people around the world; the article said it had no intention of reviewing the matter.
Company response
Clarification — Airbnb
Airbnb駁斥稱中國收入僅占一小部分，而中國是該公司連接來自世界各地的人們的重要組成部分，沒有要檢討的意思。
Source excerpt
盧比歐（Marco Rubio）7日正式要求Airbnb公司，下架這些新疆生產建設兵團的出租房訊息。
Airbnb」爆出有14個房源位於中國新疆，而房東正是受到美國制裁的侵犯維吾爾人權的中國組織──新疆生產建設兵團的相關人，根據媒體Axios調查發現，新疆生產建設兵團是一個長期控制新疆大片土地、自然資源和經濟的大型準軍事組織，直接參與維吾爾人強迫勞動，而出租房源附近就是惡名昭彰的新疆集中營。
Airbnb駁斥稱中國收入僅占一小部分，而中國是該公司連接來自世界各地的人們的重要組成部分，沒有要檢討的意思。
2021
US lawmakers condemn Beijing Olympics sponsors
Public backlash
A bipartisan US congressional group condemned US companies sponsoring the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, saying they refused to condemn the Chinese government's treatment of Uyghurs. The companies' representatives testified at a hearing; Coca-Cola's representative said the company respected all human rights.
Source excerpt
马林诺夫斯基反复询问可口可乐是否会特别谴责中共政府对维吾尔人的任何虐待时，可口可乐全球人权事务副总裁拉利说，“我们尊重所有人权。”
出席听证会的公司包括爱彼迎（Airbnb）、可口可乐、英特尔、宝洁、Visa公司。
周二（7月27日），美国国会一个两党小组谴责了2022年北京冬奥会的几家美国企业赞助商，其中包括可口可乐、Visa公司和爱彼迎（Airbnb）。议员们称，这些公司为保住在中国的利润而拒绝谴责中共的种族灭绝行为。
2021
Rights groups pressure Olympic sponsors over reported abuses in China
Public backlash
Human-rights advocates targeted Olympic sponsors, initially including Airbnb, urging them to address reported abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans and other minorities in China. The article reports allegations and advocacy pressure, not a finding about Airbnb’s conduct.
Stated objective. Meet with Uyghurs and survivors of the camps, according to the campaign director’s stated request.
Source excerpt
“Our direct request of the sponsors is simple,” McDougall said. “Meet with the Uyghurs and people who have survived the network of camps so that you are not complicit in the use of the games in silencing the issue; in being used as a propaganda tool to distract from what’s happening.”
Sponsors want the Olympic connection, but they risk damaging their brand because of reported human-rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs, Tibetans and other minorities in China.
Human-rights groups have initially targeted Airbnb and CEO Brian Chesky.
2020
COVID-19 cancellation and host-compensation dispute
Large-scale cancellations during the pandemic created conflict among guests, hosts, and Airbnb over refunds, payout decisions, and the company’s handling of exceptional circumstances.
2020
Airbnb sues Niido's parent company and NGD Homesharing
Lawsuit filed
Airbnb filed a lawsuit against the company that owns Niido and NGD Homesharing, seeking to end its relationship with the defendants. The suit alleges breached contracts and back-dated documents, and states that Niido's parent company siphoned at least $1 million from joint business interests without authorization. The filing names the corporate entities as defendants and centers on the termination of the parties' business relationship.
Stated objective. terminate its relationship with defendants
Source excerpt
The lawsuit reads, 'Airbnb brings this action to terminate its relationship with defendants.'
Airbnb, the short-term rental company, has filed a lawsuit against the company that owns Niido, a community that encourages short term rentals.
Their reasons include breached contracts, back-dating documents, and claims that Niido's parent company 'siphoned at least $1 million from the parties’ joint business interests without authorization.'
2020
Airbnb offers travel coupons for certain COVID-19 cancellations
Company response
After users criticized Airbnb over refunds for coronavirus-disrupted travel, the company said guests booking through June 1, 2020 who cancel and are not due a refund of the guest service fee would receive that fee as a travel coupon for a future trip.
Company response
Refund or compensation — Airbnb
For bookings made now through June 1, 2020, if guests need to cancel and are not due a refund of the Airbnb guest service fee, we will refund that fee as a travel coupon which can be used on a future trip
Source excerpt
For bookings made now through June 1, 2020, if guests need to cancel and are not due a refund of the Airbnb guest service fee, we will refund that fee as a travel coupon which can be used on a future trip
As more and more people poured their frustration on social media against tech hospitality platform Airbnb for refusing to pay them refunds over the coronavirus-hit travel plans, the company said it is difficult to see anyone in its community suffer financial loss or emotional strain.
2020
Airbnb announces Project Lighthouse to address discrimination
Issue disclosure
Airbnb announced Project Lighthouse, an initiative intended to uncover, measure and address discrimination on its platform. The company said it would research when and where racial discrimination occurs and investigate instances of discrimination.
Stated objective. “uncover, measure and overcome discrimination”
Source excerpt
The program, called Project Lighthouse, was created through a partnership with Color of Change, one of the nation’s largest online racial justice organizations.
Prior to the launch of Project Lighthouse, Airbnb users have had to agree to a non-discrimination policy. With the new initiative, the company also says it will investigate instances of discrimination and help users find another place to stay in those circumstances.
The company recently announced a new initiative aimed at preventing users from dealing with discrimination or racial bias while using Airbnb as a guest or a host.
2020
Airbnb sues guest over unauthorized party
Lawsuit filed
Airbnb said it is suing a guest who held an unauthorized party at a rented home in Sacramento County, California, where gunfire injured three people. The company said the suit alleges negligence and violation of local health orders.
Company response
Personnel action — Airbnb
After learning of the party, Airbnb removed the booking guest from the platform
Source excerpt
Airbnb is suing one of its customers after they held an unauthorized party in which three people were killed at a rented home.
Airbnb said in a statement provided to Newsweek the guest booked the listing "under false pretenses" and it is suing them for "negligence and violation of local health orders" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a first for the company, Airbnb is taking legal action against a guest who hired a home in Sacramento County, California, earlier this month.
2020
Reports of Airbnb users accessing other users’ inboxes
Issue disclosure
In September 2020, an article reported that Airbnb hosts were receiving access to other users’ inboxes, exposing sensitive information including names, addresses, and property access codes. The article also said early reports indicated Airbnb was advising hosts to clear cookies. The report described the issue as a worldwide data breach allowing users to access other users’ inboxes. The article did not specify how many users were affected or what outcome followed.
The article reported that Airbnb hosts were receiving access to other users’ inboxes, exposing sensitive information including names, addresses, and property access codes. The article also said early reports indicated Airbnb was advising hosts to clear cookies.
Source excerpt
Airbnb hosts are reporting a series of worrying privacy breaches happening within the app – allowing them to see the private inboxes of other users.
A major data leak currently underway at Airbnb is causing large numbers of hosts to receive access to the wrong inbox. As a result, those hosts are able to see the sensitive information of other users including names, addresses, and the codes to get into people’s Airbnb rental homes.
Early reports appear to indicate that Airbnb is telling hosts to clear their cookies in order to fix the problem.
2020
Airbnb sues Newgard over branded-apartment partnership
Lawsuit filed
Airbnb sued Newgard Development Group and Harvey Hernandez, alleging that they diverted funds invested in a planned Airbnb-branded apartment concept and engaged in fraud. Airbnb is seeking the return of its $11 million investment and to exit the contract; the allegations are claims in a lawsuit.
Source excerpt
Newgard was supposed to open at least seven of these projects, including in one in Kissimmee, Florida, in in 2019, according to Airbnb’s lawsuit filed Thursday in Northern California.
Airbnb accuses Miami real estate developer Harvey Hernandez of defrauding the short-term rental company and diverting funds that were to be used for an apartment-sharing concept.
Airbnb alleges “NGD and Hernandez stole funds, made unauthorized loans to other Hernandez-controlled companies, fraudulently backdated documents, breached contracts, and then lied repeatedly in an attempt to cover their tracks.”
2019
Airbnb reaches settlement in Quebec clear-pricing class action
Settlement
Airbnb reached a settlement in a Quebec class-action lawsuit alleging that it added service fees at checkout, making the displayed prices misleading. Airbnb denied the allegations and said it did not violate the law. The settlement provides for eligible Quebec residents to receive up to $45 in Airbnb credits and is subject to a Superior Court of Quebec hearing to determine whether it will be approved.
Company response
Denial — Airbnb
Airbnb denies the allegations and said it didn’t violate the law.
Source excerpt
As part of the settlement reached Sept. 23, any Quebec resident who booked on the Airbnb platform between Aug. 22, 2014 and June 26, 2019 where there was a higher price at checkout than on the first stage of browsing could be in line for the $45 payment in Airbnb credits.
Plaintiffs alleged Airbnb added between 13 and 17 per cent to the total price as service fees at the last step of checkout, while Airbnb denies the allegations and said it didn’t violate the law.
The Superior Court of Quebec will hold a hearing on Dec. 3 to determine if it will approve the settlement.
2019
Airbnb announces safety measures after house-party deaths
Company response
In 2019, after a shooting at a Halloween house party held at a home rented through Airbnb in California killed five people, CEO Brian Chesky announced a set of safety changes. The measures included listing verification, a guest guarantee, a 24/7 helpline, and a ban on house parties. The announcement followed the fatal incident at the Airbnb-rented property.
Following a shooting at a Halloween house party held at a home rented through Airbnb in California that killed five people, CEO Brian Chesky announced a set of safety changes, including listing verification, a guest guarantee, a 24/7 helpline, and a ban on house parties.
Stated objective. to prevent similar situations from occurring again
Source excerpt
Airbnb’s CEO Brian Chesky has announced the platform will introduce four major safety changes following a string of scandals.
Airbnb will also implement a 24/7 helpline which will be manned by a team, who can deploy the rapid response team if necessary.
Finally, the company has pledged to also ban house parties, like the unauthorised event which took place in California last weekend, as well as get rid of abusive host and guest conduct.
2019
Developer sued Airbnb over party at his property
Lawsuit filed
A developer filed papers at London's High Court to sue Airbnb, saying the company removed his home from its site after a party, costing him earnings. According to the filing, the dispute concerned a party held at the property, after which Airbnb delisted the home. The developer claimed the removal caused him to lose income. The report did not specify the amount sought or the outcome of the case.
Source excerpt
Michael Harold says Airbnb took it off their site after party, costing him earnings.
The 67-year-old has filed papers at London's High Court to sue the company
2019
Lawsuit filed against Airbnb over party-house shooting
Lawsuit filed
Sean McCann sued Airbnb and other defendants, seeking $5 million in damages over a shooting at a party held at a house rented through Airbnb. His statement of claim alleges that the shooting resulted from the defendants’ negligence.
Company response
Remediation — Airbnb
it removed the person who booked the house from its platform
Source excerpt
Posted November 29, 2019 10:11 am.
A Toronto man is suing Airbnb after being shot while attending a large party at a house rented through the online platform.
He alleges that the shooting happened as a direct result of the negligence of the defendants, including that Airbnb should have know that minimally furnished rental