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The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has launched a competition oversight investigation against Airbnb’s Ireland-based subsidiary, suspecting the platform may be misleading Hungarian users by failing to provide clear and adequate information.
According to the GVH, Airbnb’s terms of service, policies, and user information available via its website and mobile app are often lengthy, fragmented, contradictory, and in some instances only accessible in English. The Authority suspects that these shortcomings may prevent users from properly understanding the conditions related to booking requests and refunds.
Additionally, the Authority noted that
Airbnb may be withholding key information by not clearly disclosing that some listings can also be booked via other platforms or directly through property owners.
The GVH believes this lack of transparency may constitute an unfair commercial practice and could mislead consumers.
The Authority emphasized that launching the competition supervision procedure does not mean the company has been found guilty of any violation. The investigation aims to clarify the facts and determine whether a legal breach has occurred. The initial duration of the procedure is three months, which may be extended twice, each time by up to two months, if justified.
This is not the first time Airbnb has come under scrutiny in Hungary.
The authority launched an investigation in 2016, which concluded in 2018, after the company agreed to a set of commitments. However, a follow-up review completed in 2021, found that Airbnb had only partially fulfilled its obligations, leading the GVH to impose a fine of HUF 40 million (approx. EUR 100,000).
In recent years, the GVH has intensified its oversight of the online accommodation sector, including a rapid market inquiry in 2023, that yielded multiple recommendations for strengthening consumer protection and market competition.
Airbnb, founded in San Francisco in 2008, currently offers over two million listings in 34,000 cities across 191 countries. In Hungary, the platform has seen significant user engagement, with its Hungarian-language site attracting over 500,000 monthly visits between April and June 2025.
Via MTI, Featured image: Pixabay