Also, I could be wrong, but it looks to me like Airbnb are scrapping verification of government ID completely (another thing they have kept quiet about whilst announcing the recent updates).
On the one hand, they could argue that there is no need to have the government ID filter for IB now that ALL guests have to be verified to book, but what does verified mean?
Check out the profiles of your current and recent guests, or those that have sent enquiries... I can't see Govt ID verified on any of their profiles. There is email address and phone number and 'identity'. But what does 'identity' mean?
Well, if you look more closely at the article where Airbnb explains this: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/1237
there are some interesting things to note...
1. They use the word 'may'. We 'may' ask you for, not we 'will'.
2. "Some Hosts only take bookings from guests with verified identity. This may include a confirmed Government ID – for example, where there are restrictions on the building where the listing is located." So, when there are no restrictions on the building, does that mean they won't ask for Govt ID?
3. It seems that guests can upload their Govt. ID if they want to, but it's optional.
4. "When you're booking a stay that requires identity verification, this step occurs during checkout and usually takes under a minute to complete. If we are unable to verify your identity using the details you provide when making the booking, we’ll ask you to verify your identity in another way – such as with your Government ID." So, they only ask for govt. ID when the other methods fail?
5. The most important point to note: "Legal name, address and/or other personal information. Often, these are sufficient for us to verify your identity." THAT is what they normally ask for and deem as 'sufficient' to say the ID is verified. At no point does it specify that the guest will need to offer any documentation to PROVE their legal name or address.
So, while Brian Chesky is telling all those lovely potential new hosts that he would like to attract that they don't need to worry because Airbnb will make sure all guests are verified before booking, what he hasn't mentioned is that government ID has been removed from IB and is not even required for bookings with hosts that have specified that they require verification. In theory, according to the wording in the help article, a guest might just be asked to provide their name and address...
It seems to me that the verification process is being stripped back, not strengthened.