Big Tech Rental Platforms Exploit CDA 230 To Shield Illegal Activity
“Big Tech rental platforms, especially Airbnb and HomeAway, are shamefully exploiting CDA 230 to shield illegal rentals on their websites and stealing affordable housing options away from hard-working families, while padding their corporate profits off this illegal activity. These Big Tech platforms and their illegal commercial listings are evicting families who live in apartment buildings and converting them into short-term rentals, which is driving up the price to not only rent, but also to own a home. Congress must step in to protect affordable housing by passing the PLAN Act to update the Communications Decency Act and stop this outrageous exploitation of the law way beyond Congress’ intent.” – Mike Lux, President of American Family Voices
Cities & Localities Across the U.S. Are Trying To Put Guardrails Around Airbnb
As commercial investors and landlords have converted residential homes into short-term rentals, neighborhoods have suffered — housing options for local residents are depleted, the price to own or rent a home rises and neighbors are replaced with a revolving door of strangers. City councils across the country are taking action to address the situation.
The Big Tech Short-Term Rental Sites Are Suing Cities Under CDA 230 To Continue Profiting From Their Illegal Listings
“Inside Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments”
“From Nashville to New Orleans to Honolulu, Airbnb is battling local officials over requests to collect occupancy taxes and ensure that the properties listed on its site comply with zoning and safety rules. In the past five months alone, the company has spent more than half a million dollars to overturn regulations in San Diego and has sued Boston, Miami, and Palm Beach County over local ordinances that require Airbnb to collect taxes or remove illegal listings.”
PALM BEACH: “Airbnb sued the county. The suit argues Airbnb can’t be required to police illegal listings and share host information because ‘Airbnb is a realization of Congress’s [free speech] goals’ and a ‘classic intermediary.’”
(WIRED, 3/20/19)
“The Most Important Law In Tech Has A Problem”
“For Airbnb, suing American cities had become something of a monthly ritual … Airbnb’s lawyers confidently buttressed their defense with a 20-year-old federal statute: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. It includes a crucial ‘safe harbor’ provision that gives online platforms legal immunity from most of the content posted by their users. The money quote goes like this: No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”
(WIRED, 1/3/17)
It’s Time For Congress To End This Exploitation of CDA 230 By Big Tech Firms Like Airbnb And Stand With Communities As They Work To Keep Neighborhoods For Neighbors.
Click Below To Find Resources Highlighting The Exploitation of CDA 230 By Big Tech Rental Platforms: