Airbnb bans people associated with banned users as a security measure, according to a new report from Motherboard. If a user is banned because they are associated with a person that Airbnb considers a security risk, the user will only be able to return to the platform if they can prove they are not closely associated with the banned person or if the banned acquaintance successfully appeals goes against his ban.
The short-term rental company told AapkaDost in an email that if an individual has been removed from Airbnb for security reasons, it may also take action in certain circumstances to restrict the accounts of people who are likely to travel with that individual. Airbnb said this is a necessary security measure.
Motherboard reports that Airbnb recently informed a user that she has been banned from the platform because she is closely associated with a person who has been banned from Airbnb. The user had booked a rental on Airbnb using her friend’s credit card, who has a criminal record. After appealing the ban, she was told that Airbnb was enforcing the ban to protect the community.
Airbnb told AapkaDost that the decision to ban people associated with banned users extends to any type of security issue, not specifically removing background checks.
The company has been conducting background checks on its users since 2016, which has resulted in users being banned from the platform for things like broken taillights or unleashed dogs. Now that the company issues bans per association, it may be going a little too far for the users.
Airbnb has prioritized security for the past few years in hopes of keeping both hosts and users safe. The company announced a global ban on all parties and events on its 2020 listing after several people were killed in rentals arranged through its platform. Airbnb made the party ban permanent last year.
Last year, Airbnb also introduced “anti-party” technology to identify potential rule breakers by looking at factors such as the user’s review history, how long the user has been on the platform, the length of the trip, and the distance to the advertisement. At the time of launch, Airbnb said the technology is designed to prevent bookings that could turn into unauthorized parties.