Technology & Humanity
EU Probes Booking.com Over Online Fraud Risks
From Phys.org Technology · October 21, 2026
The European Union has opened an investigation into the online travel agency Booking.com under the Digital Services Act (DSA). According to the EU, the probe aims to determine if the company has failed to adequately tackle fake listings, unlicensed accommodations, and phishing scams that target users' data.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated that Europeans should be able to book vacations without fear of being scammed. The investigation also includes whether the platform failed to clearly label paid advertisements in search results. A senior EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the company's risk assessment efforts since 2023 as "substandard."
Booking.com stated it is cooperating fully with the investigation and maintains that security and the protection of personal information are top priorities. Under the DSA, large platforms that fail to comply with regulations face potential fines of up to 6% of their global turnover.
A factual summary prepared by The Quantum Disciple. The original report belongs to its publisher.