Airbnb has apologised to a woman after an apartment host falsely claimed she had caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and used images she says were digitally manipulated to back up his allegations.
The London-based academic was refunded almost £4,300, and an internal review of how the case was dealt with has been launched at the short-term accommodation rental company.
The incident highlights how cheap and easily available artificial intelligence software is now being used to manipulate images to give false evidence of what has happened in consumer complaints, according to one security expert.
How was this just a refund case and not a fraud prosecution?
Probably because it falls under the binding arbitration clause in AirBnb’s terms of service.
Fraud is a criminal charge and AirBnB’s arbitration clause is for civil disputes. Original commenter is saying police should be investigating this.
Ah, you forget that the guest and the host are not doing business with each other; both are dealing with AirBnB which means AirBnB is the only party with standing to file a criminal complaint against the host. And that their TOS binds the guest. Given how completely they caved to the guest, I’m guessing even an arbitration hearing would have gone her way.
Police don’t need someone to file charges, if they believe fraud has taken place they can prosecute regardless of the victims wishes.
Otherwise people could be blackmailed into not pressing charges against murder and the like.
In fact, in many places ordinary citizens can’t file criminal charges even if they wanted to; it’s often reserved for state (polity or part of) prosecutors. But pressing charges is different, it’s just an agreement to cooperate with the investigation.
Wouldn’t the fraud charge be against the host?
In the US it would probably have to be the women who pressed charges. And a DA would have to agree to follow through.
Airbnb said he had been warned for violating its terms and told he would be removed if there was another similar report. The company told him that it could not verify the images he submitted as part of his complaint.
Um, yes you can, those are verifiably altered images and this is verifiably criminal fraud. Now stop beating around the bush, grow a spine and take some direct action. Cowards.
but but but airbnb is just a wee little internet platform, it doesn’t actually conduct any of the business on it except taking rent money and also additional fees and fuck you surcharges
The very least, he should have been banned. Instead, just a slap on the wrist
Well, he is a super host.
Though I’m sure that didn’t weigh into their lenient decision at all no sir
Haha that image is so obviously fake. For anyone reading this, if you were ever renting anything expensive like a house or a car or something like that, always do a quick walk-through with a video Before and after. You don’t have to be super thorough, you just need to pan around the area
As a woodworker I can guarantee you it’s fake because wood doesn’t break like that.
The very least they could do was “crack” it along the grain.
Good lord, didn’t even notice that!
Maybe have news or weather channel showing on a TV so you can prove when you took the after video. That way they can’t claim that the video was taken at the beginning of your stay rather than the end.
Just make a time-stamped video. Time-stamped photos and videos are standard in a large number of industries.
Right. Good idea. Something that absolutely establishes the end time is a good idea.
Gladly i never try Airbnb, always hotels or motels
I love how the “crack” in the coffee table doesn’t even follow the grain.
I had simular experience,these platforms are not interested in professional investigation or any investigation,they just lock you in using contract clasule and sometimes you can not even sue platform for contract violations because of their umbrella agreement
If it was real, why would they have such expensive and easily breakable furniture in their apartment? It’s just asking for trouble.
There should be a maximum repair fee for individual furniture.
How can I see the whole article?
I recommend clicking on it.
Well the first couple times I clicked it would not show me the whole article just the first 20 or so lines of text. I could not see any images.
the guardian have a cookie wall which is against GDPR, you probably have blockers to stop seeing it.
I have raised a case to the ICO (uk authority in charge if upholding GDPR) but that will take up to 16 weeks to be actioned.
Eventually the cookie wall will go away because it’s clearly against GDPR but not quickly
Here’s an archived link if you need it.
Thanks ❤️
You’re welcome. :)
