Airbnb to roll out new ‘anti-party’ technology in Canada, U.S.

Airbnb claims it will employ new methods to identify and block those who attempt to rent the service for a party.

The company said Tuesday it has introduced technology that examines the would-be renter’s history on Airbnb, how far they live from the home they want to rent, whether they’re renting for a weekday or weekend and other factors.

Airbnb said the screening system that it is rolling out for listings in Canada and the United States has been tested since last October in parts of Australia, where it produced a 35 per cent drop in unauthorized parties.

The San Francisco-based company said The technology is intended to stop a customer’s request to reserve a property from reaching its host. Airbnb said A host might allow people to rent one room in a home that is not available for rental.

2020: Worldwide party ban

Since 2019, Airbnb has come under increasing pressure to curb partygoers since a house party in San Francisco resulted in five deaths in a shooting.

Airbnb announced the worldwide party ban in its listings. People under 25 were prohibited from renting entire houses near their homes unless they have positive reviews.

In 2020, the company suspended more than 40 listings in Ontario alone, targeting hosts who had received warnings, complaints, or had otherwise violated company’s party policy in the year prior.

After an Airbnb party with over 500 guests, a Quebec municipality suspended short-term listings. 

The ban on partying was originally intended to be temporary in order to help people move from bars and clubs to rent homes during the pandemic. But it was made permanent by June.