Airbnb Sues New York City to Block User-Data Bill Over Privacy

Home-rental providers Airbnb Inc. and HomeAway are suing New York City over a recently passed law that allows the collection of data on the websites’ hosts, claiming the ordinance violates users’ constitutional rights.

Airbnb is hoping to avoid millions in losses when the law, designed to police short-term home rentals, takes effect this winter. The New York City legislation, which passed with a 45-0 vote, would require Airbnb and similar sites to share the names and addresses of their hosts with the city’s Office of Special Enforcement. After Airbnb sued Friday morning, Expedia Inc.’s HomeAway filed a similar case, saying the new legislation violates privacy laws.

“The ordinance is an unlawful end-run around established restraints on governmental action and violates core constitutional rights,” Airbnb said in a claim filed in New York court on Friday.

New York, which faces an affordable housing shortage, has struggled with how to enforce regulation to control Airbnb and other home-rental services. Regulators argue that short-term rentals, which can be more profitable than long-term leases, disrupt neighborhoods and drive up rents. The new legislation is designed to give officials enough information to catch Airbnb hosts who operate outside of strict home-sharing laws.

“This law provides the city with the critical data it needs to preserve our housing stock, keep visitors safe and ensure residents feel secure in their homes and neighborhoods,” Christian Klossner, executive director for the mayor’s special enforcement office, wrote in an emailed statement. “The city will defend it.”

Some people close to Airbnb said the new bill is a devastating blow for the company. New York is one of Airbnb’s most popular markets and the legislation could inspire other cities to take a harder line on short-term home-rentals. However, Airbnb says it won’t hurt the company and other cities don’t have the same incentive to act so probably won’t pass similar rules.

“The New York City Council is a wholly owned subsidiary of the hotel industry, and they aren’t interested in working together,” said Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s head of global policy. Airbnb says it’s successfully partnering with officials in France, Australia, China and India.

In New York, Airbnb has tussled with regulators for almost a decade. In July, the company funded a civil rights lawsuit against the city. A few days later, the city sued Airbnb to force compliance with a subpoena related to an investigation into an illegal hotel.