NY Attorney General hits AirBnB with subpoena for user data

Re:NY Attorney General hits AirBnB with subpoena for user data by Xylakant on Monday October 07, 2013 @08:57AM (#6507872)

Hotel regulations at least partially benefit me as a customer. Hotels are subject to health checks for example. B&B places are exempt from some of the regulations, but not from all. So why don't AirBnB-hosts just go and apply for a B&B license - or maybe AirBnB handles the legalities for them. There's no conceivable reason that AirBnB-places should receive a preferred treatment in that matter - so I must admit I don't see and rebellion from the regulatory structure. They're just enforcing the rules that every other player is bound to as well. I also fail to see that adherence to health and fire code unfairly favors established players - quite to the contrary, those not adhering to the standards take an unfair advantage.

One of the price differences between AirBnB and other establishments is that often AirBnB-Host don't factor in taxes just because they consider themselves exempt. Why should tax avoidance be tolerated? What's unfair about cracking down on those that cheat?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:NY Attorney General hits AirBnB with subpoena for user data by fnordfnordfnord on Monday October 07, 2013 @09:51AM (#6508191)

>Hotel regulations at least partially benefit me as a customer. Hotels are subject to health checks for example.

Nobody would argue against sanitation in principle, but I have never seen a health inspector at a hotel. OTOH, I have seen some nasty hotel rooms.

> I also fail to see that adherence to health and fire code unfairly favors established players - quite to the contrary, those not adhering to the standards take an unfair advantage.

Indeed, they do: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Four...

I didn't say that AirBnB should be exempt from all regulation. I opined that the existing regulations are unfair, and that may be a reason that some entities want to disrupt that space. I would hope that some compromise can be reached that is effective at protecting people (unlike the current system), and isn't prohibitively expensive or onerous, or doesn't limit competition from non-traditional entities.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:NY Attorney General hits AirBnB with subpoena for user data by apineda on Monday October 07, 2013 @09:11AM (#6507962)

There was a discussion on this earlier as well but regarding food checks that happen annually if that. Just because it's regulated doesn't mean there is an efficient means in place to assure compliance day in and day out. You're tax dollars are being burned assuring compliance would be an additional burden you don't further want. I think if there is a guarantee of some specified level of sanitary quality (for lack of better word) before you signup for a hotel you are free to sue them if you discover they broke that contract. I know this sounds absurd but you're also free to bring in your own sheets and pillows. My point is that regulation and oversight in this centralized manner should be the last resort.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:NY Attorney General hits AirBnB with subpoena for user data by mseebach on Monday October 07, 2013 @09:39AM (#6508118)

All regulations at least partially benefits the customer, obviously. But you also have to consider the ways they also harm the customer, typically by favouring entrenched actors and limiting competition.

[ Parent | on HN ]