Airbnb

In December 2025, the Spanish government imposed a €64 million fine on Airbnb for breaches of consumer laws, including operating over 65,000 unlicensed listings. Fine reflects growing regulatory pressure over Airbnb's impact on housing markets across Europe.

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, who still sits on the company's board, joined Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Gebbia revealed he voted for Trump and attended RFK Jr's confirmation hearing. Airbnb distanced itself from Gebbia's views, stating he joined 'in his personal capacity.' The move caused internal concern at Airbnb and led to host backlash, with many threatening to leave the platform.

Unlike many tech companies that rolled back DEI programs in 2024-2025, Airbnb maintained its diversity commitments. The company's 2025 goals include 20% underrepresented minorities in US workforce and 50% women globally. A portion of executive team compensation is tied to diversity performance. Airbnb.org committed that by end of 2025, at least 33% of US workers will be underrepresented minorities.

On December 31, 2024, Airbnb made a 'non-monetary' contribution worth $100,000 to Trump's 2025 inaugural committee, providing housing coupons that were originally intended for RNC convention volunteers. CEO Brian Chesky did not attend the inauguration, citing that Airbnb's regulations are 'at the city level and state level' rather than federal.

A July 2024 CNN investigation found that Airbnb systematically failed to protect guests from hidden cameras in rental properties. The investigation revealed Airbnb does not notify law enforcement when hosts violate its camera policy, even when children are involved. The company used Section 230 as a legal shield and kept the scope of the problem hidden through arbitration, confidential settlements, and employee NDAs. A survey found 55% of hosts admitted to still using indoor cameras even after Airbnb's 2024 ban.

Since implementing its global party ban in 2020 (made permanent in June 2022), Airbnb deployed machine learning-based reservation screening technology that blocks high-risk bookings. The system analyzes factors including listing type, stay duration, distance from guest location, and whether bookings are last-minute. In 2024, approximately 51,000 people were blocked or redirected from booking entire home listings in the US over Memorial Day and July 4th weekends alone. The company reported over 50% decrease in party report rates in the US since 2020, with fewer than 0.06% of US reservations resulting in a party report in 2024.

In March 2024, Airbnb announced a global ban on all indoor security cameras in listings, effective April 30, 2024. The policy change came after years of guest complaints, lawsuits, and investigative reports about hidden cameras in rental properties. Previously, hosts were allowed indoor cameras if disclosed to guests. The simplified policy prohibits all indoor cameras regardless of location, purpose, or prior disclosure. Outdoor cameras are still permitted but hosts must disclose their presence and general location before booking. The ban was a significant privacy protection measure though enforcement challenges remain.

Airbnb set Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) aligned goals to reach corporate net-zero emissions by 2030. By 2023, the company had already surpassed its 2030 operational emissions reduction target ahead of schedule. As of 2024, Airbnb achieved 100% renewable electricity for corporate operations for the fifth consecutive year. The company committed $100 million to two funds dedicated to sustainable forest management and carbon credit generation, and engaged nearly 70 suppliers representing 61% of 2022 corporate emissions in its Supplier Sustainability Program. However, critics note Scope 3 emissions from host stays and experiences are excluded from reporting.

Since its founding in December 2020, Airbnb.org has connected nearly 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers with free temporary stays globally. Major efforts included housing 100,000 Ukrainian refugees (announced February 2022) and 20,000 Afghan refugees (August 2021). The organization launched a $25 million Refugee Fund in June 2021, with CEO Brian Chesky and co-founder Joe Gebbia making significant personal donations. Airbnb covers all of Airbnb.org's operating costs so 100% of donations go directly to providing emergency housing. By June 2023, Airbnb.org added a $2 million sponsorship initiative and $1 million in additional refugee funding.

In 2020, Airbnb launched Project Lighthouse in partnership with Color Of Change to address racial disparities. By 2023, the disparity between guests perceived as Black vs white was cut from 2.7 percentage points to 1.4 percentage points. Initiative followed 2015 Harvard study showing discrimination against African-American sounding names.

In May 2020, Airbnb laid off approximately 1,900 employees after losing 80% of business due to COVID-19. CEO Brian Chesky provided 3 months salary and 1 year health insurance as severance. Chesky later stated his philosophy: 'if you're going to cut, you need to cut once, and cut deep enough'.

A 2016 Harvard Business School field study found that guests with 'distinctly African-American names are roughly 16% less likely to be accepted than identical guests with distinctively White names.' The #AirbnbWhileBlack movement documented widespread discrimination. Multiple lawsuits followed, including from Gregory Selden and three African American women in Oregon. Airbnb 2022 data showed the gap persisted: White users had 94.1% booking success while Black users had 91.4%. CEO Brian Chesky apologized and implemented Project Lighthouse and anti-discrimination measures, removing 1.3 million users who refused to sign a non-discrimination pledge.

Airbnb listings diverted housing stock from long-term tenants to short-term rentals, reducing homes available for residents and driving up rent and property prices. In Toronto alone, the platform eliminated approximately 6,500 homes from the housing market according to a Fairbnb report. Critics alleged that in dozens of cities worldwide, the service 'hyper-accelerates affordable housing crises and gentrification patterns that force out residents.' CEO Brian Chesky acknowledged there is 'absolutely merit to the concerns.' Cities including New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles enacted regulations limiting short-term rentals to protect housing availability.