Airbnb to start sharing customer data with Chinese government

Airbnb will have to start sending information to the Chinese government on Friday about the people booking accomodation in China.

The customers will have their details passed on by the platform to the government as soon as they accept the booking. The details shared include passport information and the dates of the bookings.

The platform, which has around 140,000 listings in China, has been forced to comply with local laws and regulations. Hotels in China are already required to share their guest information with the government and the police.

Airbnb in China already requests passport details when booking accomodation and the platform stores the information and shares it with the police when required.

"The information we collect is similar to information hotels in China have collected for decades," an Airbnb spokesperson told the BBC.

"It is one step we are taking as we explore ways to help our hosts and guests follow the appropriate rules and regulations."

The changes come after the firm halted its service for a month in Beijing while the country’s annual party Congress was in session, were there was increased surveillance and targeting of dissidents and migrants.

Airbnb is looking to expand in China - one of its fastest growing markets - but it has to compete against two large Chinese rivals Tujia and Xiaozhu which also apply the strict government rules and close their services during politically delicate events.

Some hosts are unhappy about this new measure but the platform gave them the option to de-list their apartment if they wished to do so.