Airbnb is banning people who are “closely associated” with previously banned users. Here's why

Airbnb bans users who are found to be violating the app’s guidelines by engaging in unacceptable activities. Although Airbnb’s latest move is somewhat absurd, the company claims that it will increase user safety.

Airbnb does ban users who are likely to travel with someone who has already been banned, according to a statement provided to Motherboard. However, the company did not specify when this practice began or how frequently it occurs.

According to an Airbnb spokesperson, this is done as a “necessary safety precaution”, and referring to such bans as a result of association is overly simplistic. The company's process for putting these bans into place is not clear, and there have been times when the company has apologised and said it was wrong. Airbnb mistakenly banned conservative journalist Lauren Southern because she was “closely associated” with “a person who is not allowed to use Airbnb.


Airbnb, which allows people to rent out their homes or stay in the homes of others, has a policy that restricts accounts of people who are likely to travel with the person who has been removed from the app for safety reasons. This means that if you have a friend who has been banned from Airbnb for breaking the rules and you frequently travel together, your account may be restricted as well.

However, if a user knows someone who was rightfully banned from Airbnb, this policy may land them in hot water. Even if you did nothing wrong, you may be punished because of your association with the banned user. Vice, a news outlet that investigates and shares information with the public, recently revealed this policy.

FAQs

Q1: What is Airbnb's full name?
AirBedandBreakfast

Q2: Is Airbnb used in India?
Yes