Some of the company's data transfers won't be completely voluntary. Separate from the agreement, a judge has ordered Airbnb to comply with subpoenas by providing detailed info for "dozens" of hosts and "hundreds" of guests who've either listed or stayed in over a dozen buildings in three boroughs over the past seven years. The data includes sensitive material like names and addresses, bank account details and reservation histories. An Airbnb representative told Wired that the company hoped that honoring the subpoenas was a "first step" toward city regulations that were in line with its rights and obligations. It also claimed this "reinforces" privacy concerns by having the city show the court why it needed more detailed information. The company had previously characterized the subpoenas as "overbroad and unduly burdensome." The two transfers don't represent a definitive end to the quarrel between Airbnb and NYC, but they could have a significant influence on how the city treats home rental services. The metropolis has long been concerned that Airbnb and similar services exacerbate housing issues by letting tenants and landlords turn apartments into makeshift hotel rooms, denying permanent residents a place to stay. Airbnb's info could help NYC determine the scale of this practice and prosecute offenders.
Airbnb has agreed to supply partially-anonymised host and reservation data on three listings in New York City (NYC), in a bid to end a dispute with the city over data sharing and possible violations of short-term rental laws. Additionally, the hospitality platform will share information on all listings rented between 1 January 2018 and 18 February 2019 that may have violated the laws. Some of the data transfers, such as sensitive information on names, addresses and bank account details, will be made to satisfy court-ordered compliance with subpoenas.