EU investigates Booking.com over online fraud
Brussels is examining fake adverts, phishing and how the platform limits risks.
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The European Commission is opening a formal investigation into Booking.com. Brussels wants to know whether the platform is doing enough to tackle fraudulent accommodation listings, identity fraud and phishing through its services.
The European Commission announced the investigation on Wednesday. It concerns whether Booking.com is complying with the obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European law requiring large online platforms to identify and mitigate systemic risks.
The Commission is focusing, among other things, on adverts for accommodation that does not exist, fraudsters posing as landlords or Booking staff, and offers that do not comply with the rules. Brussels is also examining whether Booking.com has sufficiently assessed these risks and taken measures to reduce them.
The investigation follows a preliminary analysis of risk assessments that Booking.com submitted to the Commission this year and in the three preceding years. The European regulator stresses that opening proceedings does not yet constitute a finding that the company has breached the law.
The European Commission has designated Booking.com as a very large online platform. According to the Commission’s current list, the service has more than 45 million monthly users in the European Union. As a result, Booking.com faces stricter obligations than smaller platforms.
European rules require such platforms, among other things, to assess systemic risks relating to illegal content and consumer protection. In the event of an infringement, the Commission may ultimately impose a fine of up to 6 per cent of worldwide annual turnover. That is a possible sanction, not an indication that a fine will be imposed in this case.
The outcome of the proceedings is not yet known. It is still unclear how long the investigation will take and whether the Commission will ultimately identify shortcomings. The case is relevant to Dutch travellers and hosts because Booking.com operates from the Netherlands and many European bookings are made through the platform.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The European Commission has opened formal DSA proceedings against Booking.com.
- The proceedings concern risks relating to fraudulent accommodation, phishing, identity fraud and potentially non-compliant offers.
- There is no definitive finding of an infringement and no fine has been imposed.
Left
Arguments Large platforms benefit from scale and should therefore have a heavy duty of care to protect users and hosts from fraud. If checks are inadequate, stricter enforcement and possible financial liability are the obvious next steps.
Values Consumer protection, limiting the power of large technology companies and fair access to digital markets.
Consequences More oversight could improve safety, but could also lead to higher compliance costs that ultimately fall on accommodation providers or travellers.
Centre
Arguments A formal investigation is appropriate to establish what measures can reasonably be expected of Booking.com. The proceedings should remain fact-based and allow room for improvement before a sanction is imposed.
Values Legal certainty, proportionate enforcement and a level playing field within the European single market.
Consequences Clear standards can strengthen trust, while a lengthy or unclear procedure could create uncertainty for the platform and its business partners.
Right
Arguments Platforms must combat fraud, but the government should not place every risk on one company. Users, hosts, banks and law-enforcement agencies all have a role; excessively onerous rules could restrict innovation and freedom of choice.
Values Personal responsibility, entrepreneurial freedom and restrained government intervention.
Consequences A limited approach could prevent costs and bureaucracy, but too little oversight could damage trust in online booking and the market position of reliable providers.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central claims are confirmed by Reuters and the European Commission’s current enforcement list. The article clearly distinguishes between opening an investigation and establishing an infringement.
- confirmed The European Commission opened a formal investigation into Booking.com on 21 October 2026. — Reuters reports the opening; the European Commission lists the same date in its enforcement list. source
- confirmed The investigation covers, among other things, fake adverts, phishing and identity fraud. — Reuters mentions fake listings, impersonation fraud and phishing-related risks. source
- confirmed Booking.com is a very large online platform with more than 45 million monthly users in the EU. — The European Commission lists Booking.com as a very large online platform and cites more than 45 million monthly users. source
- confirmed A DSA fine can amount to up to 6 per cent of worldwide annual turnover. — The European Commission describes this maximum sanction for large platforms. source
- confirmed It is not yet known whether Booking.com has breached the law or will receive a fine. — The sources describe opened proceedings and no definitive findings or sanction. source