Airbnb has announced changes to its platform in an effort to combat allegations of discrimination following months of criticism that hosts were rejecting potential guests on the basis of race.
The changes follow a number of controversies surrounding the San Francisco-based company – including the viral hashtag #AirbnbWhileBlack, in which black users shared their stories of discrimination using Airbnb.
The company says it will eventually reduce the prominence of user photographs and promote instant bookings.
Users will first be required to agree to a community commitment to regard other members without bias by 1 November.
“Bias and discrimination have no place on Airbnb, and we have zero tolerance for them,” company chief executive Brian Chesky said. “Unfortunately, we have been slow to address these problems, and for this I am sorry.”
By 2017, Airbnb says they will implement policies that play down the use of photos of hosts and guests, while emphasising trip details, reviews, and user verification.
The company will also increase the number of Instant Book listings, which gives guests the option of booking a room without prior approval from a host. Additionally, hosts will not be able to book additional guests if they reject another user for unavailability.
Airbnb has been criticised for its failure to address discrimination on the platform since concerns were raised in late 2015. In December, Harvard researchers found that renters with “black” names were less likely to be approved to rent a room using Airbnb.
The issued reached critical mass in April when black Twitter users described instances of discrimination on the platform with #AirbnbWhileBlack.
In a June letter to Mr Chesky, the Congressional Black Caucus shared their concerns about the platform and urged the company to take further action to address the rampant racism found on the platform. The letter cited the Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination in hotels or motels on the basis of race, colour, religion, or national origin.
