Guilty by association: Airbnb is banning accounts connected to already banned users

Airbnb is taking the term “guilty by association” to a new level. As a safety precaution, the accommodation site is banning users who are “closely associated with” users who are already prohibited.

The tech company positioned the faulty screening protocol to crack down on accounts that could likely be traveling with users who have violated Airbnb policies in the past. Association with these tarnished users deems a person just as risky.

Airbnb provided a statement to Motherboard confirming the questionable logic. A spokesperson for the company wouldn’t say when this practice started or how often it occurs. The company said it does this as a “necessary safety precaution.”

This is one of many efforts that Airbnb has implemented to ensure other guests and hosts avoid safety risks. In 2022 the company publicized its decision to ban parties permanently. Their decision was derived from a string of shootings and deaths that happened in the short-term rental properties. The company included the guideline within their booking agreements and threatened legal action against anyone that broke the rule.

Motherboard shared the story of a young woman informed that she was banned from the platform. She attempted to book a stay using her boyfriend’s credit card, but unbeknownst to her, his account was deactivated because of a past criminal record.

The young woman’s association with someone with a marked background check now categorizes her as a liability. The company’s extensive background check has been put in place since 2016. It can flag someone for things like broken tail lights or unleashed dogs.

The fact that a user’s account can be banned because of their significant other’s past traffic violation is coming off as too harsh for some. The company provides users the option to appeal their banned account, but it could end up in total removal.

Airbnb stated, “If we find that you are not closely associated with a person who isn’t allowed to use Airbnb, we may restore your account. If not, your account will remain removed from Airbnb.”

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.

This story was originally published March 9, 2023 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Guilty by association: Airbnb is banning accounts connected to already banned users."