Airbnb officially prohibits people from using their site if they are affiliated with other banned users and are deemed a safety risk.
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In a statement, the company stated that it would investigate users who are closely associated with other users who were banned for safety reasons. If a user is banned due to a safety risk, they can only return if they provide proof that they are not associated with the banned user. Airbnb, the associated user, would most likely travel with their banned friend, which is why the policy was implemented.
A user was recently banned because her boyfriend was banned from the platform due to having a criminal record. The user booked a rental using her boyfriend’s credit card, but it was discovered that she was related to him. According to TechCrunch, after winning the appeal, Airbnb announced the ban as a precautionary measure.
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Although it can be seen as a background check, the company said it has been conducting it since 2016. In a report by TechCrunch, some users were banned for having a broken tail light or having unleashed dogs. The company faced controversy previously after a former slave quarter was listed for rental.
Janaye Ingram, Airbnnb Director of Community Partner Programs and Engagement said, “Discrimination and bias unfortunately happen in our world, so they can play out on platforms like Airbnb – and that’s unacceptable to us. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome using our platform. We believe you can’t fix what you don’t measure, so we’re using Project Lighthouse to help us uncover disparities among perceived racial groups and inform our work to make Airbnb more equitable for people of color,”
The platform also enforced anti-party technology to instantly spot rule breakers who make bookings in order to throw parties. They will suggest single-bedroom rentals to the user. The system was implemented last year after Airbnb banned all parties throughout the United States and Canada.
“We believe there is a direct correlation between our implementation of the policy in August 2020 and a 44% year-over-year drop in the rate of party reports. The ban has been well received by our Host community and we’ve received positive feedback from community leaders and elected officials. As we build on this momentum, we believe the time is right to codify this policy,”
The company also launched a hotline for neighbors to complain about noisy parties or make a report about someone’s safety.