My host want me to sign a terms of service that allows them to sell my data.

[Ken2266]

Below is a copy of the email I had to send in to inquire if there is any limit on the scope of terms of service hosts can require guests to sign. 

Here is the email:

Camilo,

I just spent a full 30 minutes trying to read through the Terms of Service of the vacation rental unit I booked, because that is exactly what I want to HAVE TO DO when I rent through AirBnb! Apparently you as a company also don't mind that you are putting me in a position to HAVE to spend this time because you are giving the property owners carte blanche to require anything from me, YOUR CUSTOMER. If this is not the case do you recommend that I just click on "I agree" without reading the terms of service you are allowing your property owners to saddle me with?

You explained to me that while AirBnb recommends us, the CUSTOMER, to only use the AirBnb portal to communicate, that the people offering the rental can attach any language that they want in fine print at the bottom of the house rules that include requiring signing another contract with them. The terms of service the people renting this house are requiring me to sign include:

"Personal information includes, but is not limited to, your name, phone number, email address, social security number (SSN)..."

"We also obtain data from third parties, including data brokers who provide supplemental data like demographics, and third party service providers, such as Facebook..."

"We may also provide personal information to our business partners or other trusted entities for the purpose of providing you with information on goods or services we believe will be of interest to you."

"YOUR INFORMATION MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO AND MAINTAINED ON COMPUTERS, SYSTEMS, AND NETWORKS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF YOUR STATE, PROVINCE, COUNTRY OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTION WHERE THE PRIVACY LAWS MAY NOT BE AS PROTECTIVE AS THOSE IN YOUR JURISDICTION...."

"...TurnKey does not recognize “do not track” signals sent from web browsers. Third-party services that TurnKey uses may collect personal information about individual users and their activities over time and across different websites...."

I can get screwed myself renting directly from a property owner. I don't need you stepping in the middle of that kind of transaction. What VALUE does the AirBnb brand have to your CUSTOMER if you don't protect your CUSTOMER???

Is there ANYWHERE in your terms of service that LIMITS the scope of the separate terms of service you allow property owners to require your customers to sign? This is a question I want an answer to as a paying customer. Send me that information please.

Thank you,

Ken Hawthorn

[Sarah977]

@Ken2266  There are many warnings here on the forum, both from hosts and guests, about Turnkey.

Type Turnkey into the forum search engine. Here's one:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help/Avoid-Turnkey-Vacation-Rentals/m-p/1303383#M282256

I realize your issue concerns what Airbnb allows these property-managed listings to do, but they have different rules for these big players than for regular hosts.

[Ken2266]

Sarah,

Thank you. I did read through those. It seems like Airbnb allows Turnkey to shred the experiences of the homeowner and the Airbnb customer at the same time and ruin both sides of the equation. I guess I would still like to find an answer to the question: does Airbnb have any limitations on the scope of the terms of service that companies like Turnkey make the Airbnb guests agree to?

Can the terms of service require that I walk backwards around the property three times each midnight? Serious question. They already are getting the rights to sell my data and track me across other websites, what is off limits according to Airbnb?

[Ann72]

@Ken2266  Your questions are 100% valid and they are the kinds of questions I ask in my day job when I'm vetting contracts.  I've almost given up reading TOS because one is prevented from negotiating them and the resultant frustration is simply too great.

I don't know what the answers to your questions are.  You can opt out of marketing activities and manage your data in other ways, but note the repetition of the crucial phrase, "If allowed under the laws of the jurisdiction where you reside."  See more at this article:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2273/im-an-airbnb-user-how-do-i-exercise-my-data-subject-rights

[Dale711]

Hi @Ken2266 

Welcome to the community 😊

@Ann72  is right, do through the link above as she provided.