Woman wins apology and refund of almost £4,300 after claiming host’s photos were digitally manipulated

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.comEnglish
    109·
    6 days 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.

    • baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      221·
      6 days 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

  • magic_lobster_party@fedia.io
    8·
    5 days ago

    If it was real, why would they have such expensive and easily breakable furniture in their apartment? It’s just asking for trouble.

    There should be a maximum repair fee for individual furniture.

  • cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    4·
    5 days ago

    I had simular experience,these platforms are not interested in professional investigation or any investigation,they just lock you in using contract clasule and sometimes you can not even sue platform for contract violations because of their umbrella agreement