Airbnb Debuts New Non-Discrimination Policy, Updated Terms of Service
Photo Credit: Airbnb today debuted its new non-discrimination policy and updated terms of service. Airbnb
Skift Take
While kudos should be rightly given to Airbnb for wanting to take a step toward fighting discrimination and bias on its platform, there don't seem to be many changes on its site that would make those efforts even stronger. And the new terms of service make it even clearer that should you be discriminated against on Airbnb by one of its other users, the company does not assume any legal liability.
Today, Airbnb officially debuted its new non-discrimination policy as part of its updated Community Commitment, requiring all Airbnb hosts to agree to it in order to rent out places on its platform.
The policy was originally put forth in Airbnb's Sept. 8 discrimination report authored by former ACLU director Laura Murphy.
The policy, which is stronger than most U.S. state laws in terms of its inclusion says hosts may not decline or impose any different terms or conditions on a guest based on "race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status."
However, there is an exception for hosts who share living spaces (bathroom, kitchen, common areas) with a guest. These hosts can choose to decline a guest based on gender. So, for example, if a female host doesn't feel comfortable renting her spare room to a male Airbnb guest, she does not have to rent to a male.
The new policy also informs hosts
