Airbnb
Risk Level:
Summary:
Airbnb has canceled reservations for certain clients and banned users from its platform if they have been involved with any groups the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) puts on its "Hate Group" list. The company regularly uses its corporate reputation to advance ideological agendas by signing open letters and amicus briefs. Airbnb does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination. Airbnb funded the Black Lives Matter Foundation as well. For these reasons, Airbnb receives a "High Risk" rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
Airbnb canceled the reservations of customers who were attending a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia (1). Airbnb also banned a Filipino American from using its website after she attended an event hosted by a group that the SPLC deemed a “hate group” (3). The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Airbnb has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (4).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Airbnb restricts its giving to “organizations addressing COVID-19 relief, economic empowerment and education.” It does not discriminate against faith-based charities (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Airbnb does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Airbnb has signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (1). Airbnb has signed onto multiple amicus briefs, which include opposition to Trump’s travel ban, support for trans students using the bathroom of their choice, to including sexual orientation under Civil Rights act protections (2)(3)(4). Airbnb signed an open letter opposing a Florida bill that would prevent teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (5). It also emailed its clients to push these same views (6). Airbnb supports codifying abortion rights (7).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Airbnb has donated to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Foundation. It even allegedly directed its customers to the BLM donation page when they tried to search for bookings through its site (1)(2)(3). Airbnb has also said that its “healthcare coverage supports reproductive rights and we will work to make sure our employees have the resources they need to make choices about their reproductive rights, as we committed to in 2021” (4)(5).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 28, 2022
Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer