Post by High Priestess on Apr 28, 2017 15:11:38 GMT
Airbnb gives in to regulator's demands that it permit them to do "discrimination testing" of hosts.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/27/airbnb-government-housing-test-black-discrimination
Excerpt:
What the "testing" will involve:
I'm disappointed that Airbnb "gave in" to this testing.
Also...I'm concerned about presumptions in these "tests" and "studies." I wonder about the objectivity of the "testing."
Moreover, the language in this article suggests that the "testing" to be done again repeats the culture's excessive fixation on racism, -- will it ignore all the other issues over which someone might be discriminated against? Seems to me that this fixation on a certain form of racism is again a type of bias.
For instance what about age discrimination?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/27/airbnb-government-housing-test-black-discrimination
Excerpt:
Airbnb will allow the government to test for racial discrimination by hosts as part of an agreement with California that is the first of its kind and could pave the way for stricter regulations and greater public scrutiny.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) announced Thursday that it had resolved a complaint it filed against Airbnb with an agreement that forces the company to permit the state to conduct “fair housing testing” of certain hosts. That means that for the first time Airbnb is giving a regulatory body the permission to conduct the kind of racial discrimination audits that officials have long used to enforce fair housing laws against traditional landlords.
The resolution of the state’s ten-month investigation is significant given that Airbnb, like many popular “sharing economy” companies such as Uber and Instacart, has repeatedly resisted existing industry regulations, arguing that it is a “platform” and not subject to local laws and requirements that apply to similar businesses.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) announced Thursday that it had resolved a complaint it filed against Airbnb with an agreement that forces the company to permit the state to conduct “fair housing testing” of certain hosts. That means that for the first time Airbnb is giving a regulatory body the permission to conduct the kind of racial discrimination audits that officials have long used to enforce fair housing laws against traditional landlords.
The resolution of the state’s ten-month investigation is significant given that Airbnb, like many popular “sharing economy” companies such as Uber and Instacart, has repeatedly resisted existing industry regulations, arguing that it is a “platform” and not subject to local laws and requirements that apply to similar businesses.
What the "testing" will involve:
In its complaint, the DFEH alleged that Airbnb failed to prevent discrimination against African American guests and that the company should be held liable for violations.
Airbnb’s new agreement with DFEH is limited in scope. It allows the state to do fair housings tests on hosts in California who have been subject to discrimination complaints and have three or more listings. There are about 76,000 hosts in California, but according to the company, only 6,000 have three or more listings.
The tests would mirror the process investigators have used in traditional rentals where black and white applicants, who otherwise have identical backgrounds, are both sent to try and secure a lease from a landlord. With Airbnb, DFEH investigators could set up fake accounts and make reservation requests to determine if a host is discriminating.
Airbnb’s new agreement with DFEH is limited in scope. It allows the state to do fair housings tests on hosts in California who have been subject to discrimination complaints and have three or more listings. There are about 76,000 hosts in California, but according to the company, only 6,000 have three or more listings.
The tests would mirror the process investigators have used in traditional rentals where black and white applicants, who otherwise have identical backgrounds, are both sent to try and secure a lease from a landlord. With Airbnb, DFEH investigators could set up fake accounts and make reservation requests to determine if a host is discriminating.
I'm disappointed that Airbnb "gave in" to this testing.
Also...I'm concerned about presumptions in these "tests" and "studies." I wonder about the objectivity of the "testing."
Moreover, the language in this article suggests that the "testing" to be done again repeats the culture's excessive fixation on racism, -- will it ignore all the other issues over which someone might be discriminated against? Seems to me that this fixation on a certain form of racism is again a type of bias.
For instance what about age discrimination?