Airbnb is suing the city of New York over a new law that allows local officials to collect data on Airbnb hosts, including names and addresses. Airbnb claims such an ordinance violates users’ constitutional rights. The law, which aims to institute stricter checks and balances on short-term rentals in the city, is set to take effect this winter. “The ordinance is an unlawful end-run around established restraints on governmental action and violates core constitutional rights,” Airbnb said in court documents filed Friday.
New York, which faces a shortage of affordable housing, has struggled to enforce regulations on Airbnb and other home-sharing services. Lawmakers say short-term rentals can be more profitable than long-term leases, and the new ordinance will give them information on Airbnb hosts who aren’t following the city’s strict home-sharing laws. New York is one of Airbnb’s most popular markets. Other cities could follow suit with their own ordinances to limit short-term rentals, housing experts say.
Source:
“Airbnb Sues New York City to Block User-Data Bill Over Privacy,” Bloomberg (Aug. 24, 2018)
