Airbnb’s safety practices have come under scrutiny as a former contractor accuses the company of scaling back efforts to remove extremists from its platform. Jess Hernandez, a former investigations analyst for Airbnb’s dangerous organizations team, alleged in a whistleblower complaint that the company terminated her and directed her team to reinstate users associated with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
According to Whistleblower Aid, the organization representing Hernandez, Airbnb spent much of 2023 undermining the work of its team tasked with removing individuals affiliated with dangerous and extremist organizations. Hernandez filed the whistleblower disclosure with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission in May, as reported by NBC.
In response to the allegations, Airbnb disputed Hernandez’s claims and stated that it continues to enforce against members of dangerous or extremist organizations. The company emphasized its commitment to promoting community safety and preventing unsafe users from utilizing the platform.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has worked to address safety concerns over the platform’s model of strangers staying in each other’s homes. The whistleblower complaint comes as a challenge to Airbnb’s efforts to uphold its commitment to inclusivity and safety for all users regardless of background.
In past instances, Airbnb has taken action against users associated with extremist activities, such as removing accounts tied to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and individuals involved in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. However, Hernandez’s claims suggest that the company’s approach shifted in 2023, leading to delays and complications in removing potentially dangerous users.
Hernandez, who previously worked for the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium, expressed frustration with the limitations placed on her team’s ability to remove individuals. The whistleblower complaint raises concerns about Airbnb’s handling of safety issues and its commitment to addressing extremist threats on its platform.
