Airbnb has alerted hosts in China that it will begin sharing host information with the Chinese government.
In an email sent to hosts and seen by PhocusWire, Airbnb says that, beginning March 30, it may “disclose your information to Chinese government agencies without further notice to you.”
The email also includes an oversize button directing hosts to deactivate their listings if they have any concerns.
Airbnb says it’s complying with local laws and regulations, including privacy and information disclosure laws, and that the practice is similar to “other hospitality companies that do business in China.”
When reached for comment, Airbnb says: “We’re committed to doing all we can to keep our hosts and guests informed about our work in China and we recently updated our hosts about our requirements under the law.
"The information we collect is similar to information hotels in China have collected for decades."
Airbnb did not respond to questions regarding the timing of the announcement, in particular why it was only beginning to share the data with authorities now (despite mentioned in regional media in October 2017).
Not smooth sailing in China?
Airbnb first launched in China in 2014, after a few years working behind the scenes with a small team from its Asia Pacific HQ, eventually opening a base in the capital, Beijing.
Initial popularity of the brand led many to think that the company's success elsewhere around the globe would be mirrored in what many consider to be one of the most difficult markets to crack for Western travel brands.
Despite landing investment from China-based companies and establishing a solid user base in the country, some criticized the Chinese name ("Aibiying") it gave itself, its local chief left and the competition pounced.
Ctrip-backed Tujia shows no signs of slowing down, and Airbnb finds itself in the fairly unusual position of having a serious battle on its hands.