European Union: European Commission requested information from Booking on detection and mitigation of financial scam risks

On 23 September 2025, the European Commission requested information from Booking on the detection and mitigation of financial scam risks. The investigation was initiated under the Digital Services Act, which mandates very large online platforms and search engines to assess and mitigate systemic risks associated with the dissemination of illegal content and with consumer protection. The investigation aims to understand how Booking identifies and manages risks related to financial scams, including fake accommodation listings and misleading advertisements or links. The Commission also sought details on the verification of business identities under "Know Your Business Customer" rules and information regarding advertising repositories to detect fraudulent advertisements and patterns.