Overview
- The European Commission opened formal proceedings on Wednesday after a preliminary review of Booking.com's risk reports from 2023 to 2026 to check compliance with the Digital Services Act.
- The probe will examine fake or non-existent listings, impersonation of property owners, phishing that exploits reservation and guest data, and whether paid 'boosted' listings are clearly labeled as advertisements.
- EU officials cited a Dutch consumer report that recorded a tenfold rise in fraud notifications this year with 1,072 reports and roughly €82,000 in reported losses as part of the evidence prompting the investigation.
- The Commission said it will carry out an in-depth inquiry by sending information requests, conducting interviews and making inspections if needed while Booking.com says it is cooperating and prioritizes security and data protection.
- If investigators find breaches of the DSA, Booking.com as a designated very large online platform could face remedial orders or fines up to 6% of global annual turnover and the case could shape how travel platforms police scams and ad transparency.