Post by High Priestess on Apr 6, 2016 15:32:40 GMT
Here's an article evaluating the new Airbnb Terms of SErvice --
www.ibtimes.com/airbnb-forced-arbitration-evolving-privacy-policy-shares-more-homes-2348752
When Airbnb last week sent a note out about some modifications to its terms of service, few probably bothered to read through the fine print to see precisely what had changed. But if you’re one of the 60 million-plus people who use the home-sharing service, you should probably pay attention, especially if you care about who Airbnb shares your data with, how deeply it peers into your personal history and what legal recourse you have if a gaggle of backpackers track mud all over your priceless Persian rug.
Data collection practices, criminal background checks and forced arbitration policies were among the areas of Airbnb’s fine print that were changed as part of the San Francisco housing rental site’s updated terms of service. The changes — announced last week and taking effect in May — bolster Airbnb’s ability to compel users to forfeit key legal rights, some of which are at issue in an ongoing court battle. They also refine its ability to marshal users’ personal information for deep background checks, targeted ads and other undisclosed business enterprises.
....“When you click that little box, you are giving away a great deal of rights,” said Cullen Hoback, who directed the 2013 documentary “Terms and Conditions May Apply,” which looked at the implications of user agreements. “The Constitution doesn’t apply. The companies are writing their own laws and nobody is negotiating on behalf of the user, so you are entering uncharted territory. They are writing laws that entirely protect them and take everything that they possibly can from you.”
www.ibtimes.com/airbnb-forced-arbitration-evolving-privacy-policy-shares-more-homes-2348752
When Airbnb last week sent a note out about some modifications to its terms of service, few probably bothered to read through the fine print to see precisely what had changed. But if you’re one of the 60 million-plus people who use the home-sharing service, you should probably pay attention, especially if you care about who Airbnb shares your data with, how deeply it peers into your personal history and what legal recourse you have if a gaggle of backpackers track mud all over your priceless Persian rug.
Data collection practices, criminal background checks and forced arbitration policies were among the areas of Airbnb’s fine print that were changed as part of the San Francisco housing rental site’s updated terms of service. The changes — announced last week and taking effect in May — bolster Airbnb’s ability to compel users to forfeit key legal rights, some of which are at issue in an ongoing court battle. They also refine its ability to marshal users’ personal information for deep background checks, targeted ads and other undisclosed business enterprises.
....“When you click that little box, you are giving away a great deal of rights,” said Cullen Hoback, who directed the 2013 documentary “Terms and Conditions May Apply,” which looked at the implications of user agreements. “The Constitution doesn’t apply. The companies are writing their own laws and nobody is negotiating on behalf of the user, so you are entering uncharted territory. They are writing laws that entirely protect them and take everything that they possibly can from you.”
