Booking.com under investigation by EU regulators over fake listings and scams

EU regulators have launched an investigation into Booking.com, alleging that the accommodation website has failed to adequately protect consumers from fake listings and scams. The European Commission criticized the company's approach as "absolutely substandard," suggesting it may have violated the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

The commission stated that Booking.com should conduct risk assessments and take proactive measures to prevent fraud, as mandated by the DSA. A commission official remarked:

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"We feel that what they have done is absolutely substandard. Although they take measures, they could go much further and they could have much more solid systems to prevent fraud."

Additionally, EU officials will investigate whether Booking.com has breached advertising transparency rules by not clearly informing users that some accommodation providers paid for increased visibility on the platform.

Under the DSA, companies found in violation could face fines of up to 6% of their worldwide annual turnover. The commission emphasized that the initiation of the investigation does not imply any predetermined outcome.