Airbnb has apologised to a woman after an apartment host falsely claimed she had caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and used images she says were digitally manipulated to back up his allegations.

The London-based academic was refunded almost £4,300, and an internal review of how the case was dealt with has been launched at the short-term accommodation rental company.

The incident highlights how cheap and easily available artificial intelligence software is now being used to manipulate images to give false evidence of what has happened in consumer complaints, according to one security expert.

  • Trapped In America@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    Airbnb said he had been warned for violating its terms and told he would be removed if there was another similar report. The company told him that it could not verify the images he submitted as part of his complaint.

    Um, yes you can, those are verifiably altered images and this is verifiably criminal fraud. Now stop beating around the bush, grow a spine and take some direct action. Cowards.

      • TheCleric@lemmy.org
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        24 hours ago

        Well, he is a super host.

        Though I’m sure that didn’t weigh into their lenient decision at all no sir

    • baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 day ago

      but but but airbnb is just a wee little internet platform, it doesn’t actually conduct any of the business on it except taking rent money and also additional fees and fuck you surcharges