Society | Nov 17

Fair trade commission investigating Airbnb Japan

Japan's Fair Trade Commission is investigating the local unit of the US vacation rental platform Airbnb on suspicion of violating the anti-monopoly law.

Sources say the company is suspected of asking home-sharing agencies not to post information on other platforms as a condition for using Airbnb's website.

There are dozens of these agencies in Japan. They secure accommodation and manage reservations, and post the information on online rental platforms.

Officials at the commission raided the company in Tokyo in early October. They suspect it undermined other firms' business opportunities by setting unfair conditions.

Airbnb denies the allegations, and says it is fully cooperating with the investigation.


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