Former US Attorney General Eric Holder to craft Airbnb’s new nondiscrimination policy
Former US Attorney General Eric Holder has been hired by Airbnb in order to shape the company’s anti-discrimination policies.
The company has been involved in controversies recently, where accommodation has been refused to people because they are LGBT+ or because their names stop them from accessing the service.
Mr Holder was announced on Wednesday by the company’s chief executive Brian Chesky who said Airbnb would be beefing up its anti-discrimination policies.
He said the fight against discrimination is “the greatest challenge we face as a company.”
Adding: “While we have a policy that prohibits discrimination, we want this policy to be stronger.”
In a statement about his appointment, Mr Holder said: “Airbnb is committed to building a community where everyone can belong. I’m eager to help them craft policies that will be the model for companies who share Airbnb’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
Harvard researchers last year said guests with African-American-sounding names to find accommodation through Airbnb.
Earlier this month PinkNews reported that a Pride-goer in the US found that his reservation was cancelled after he was asked why he was booking, and told the owner he was attending Pride.
In the announcement Airbnb said Mr Hold would work with John Relman, a civil rights lawyer, to craft the new policy.
The company is based in San Francisco and is valued at around $25 billion.
