2023-10-27 10:00:00
They did the Monster Mash; it was a graveyard smash – but not at an Airbnb property.
Airbnb is enforcing its global ban on parties at rental properties this Halloween weekend by deploying an “anti-party” artificial intelligence system. It blocks “potentially higher-risk” one-night and two-night bookings for entire homes, a news release said. The technology assesses warning signs like the length of the trip, the distance to the listing and whether the booking is made last-minute.
During Halloween 2022, this system prevented 2,400 people in Michigan from booking entire homes.
“While disruptive parties are rare, we want to try to reduce the risk of them even more. Our AI anti-party system is an important tool in helping us to do that, and we’re optimistic it will have a positive impact for our community and neighborhoods this Halloween,” Naba Banerjee, head of trust and safety at Airbnb, said in a statement.
Related: Residents of Lake Michigan beachfront community sue over short-term rental ban
Airbnb rolled out a temporary ban on parties during the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health tool. But it became permanent in June 2022 following developing into “a bedrock community policy,” the company said. Airbnb has seen party reports drop by 55% since it introduced the rule in 2020.
The anti-party system also deterred 15,500 people in California, 11,300 in Florida and 11,000 in Texas from booking homes last Halloween.
The ban is specific to “disruptive gatherings,” which include open-invite parties like those advertised on social media. Other disturbances are excessive noise, visitors and trash plus parking issues, smoking, trespassing and vandalism.
Violators might be suspended or removed from the platform.
Read more statewide coverage from MLive
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