After Using Airbnb, Told to Pay 20 Million Won for Damages... Host's Photos Turn Out to Be Manipulated

Host Demands Compensation on Airbnb
Victim Refutes with "AI Manipulation Evidence"
Expert Warns, "Image Manipulation Now Easier..."

A British woman narrowly avoided paying tens of thousands of pounds after a photo manipulated by artificial intelligence (AI) was used against her, and ultimately received a full refund for her accommodation. Experts have warned that "anyone can become a victim," cautioning against the misuse of AI in consumer disputes.

A British woman received a full refund for her accommodation from Airbnb. Image unrelated to the article. Pixabay

On August 10 (local time), British media outlets such as The Guardian reported that a British woman, identified as Ms. A, successfully challenged a false claim made by her Airbnb host and secured a refund of about 4,300 pounds (approximately 7.4 million won) and an apology. The host had submitted photos of damaged furniture, including a cracked coffee table, claiming Ms. A had caused thousands of pounds in damages. However, Ms. A refuted this, arguing that the photos had been manipulated using AI or digital tools.

Host Claims "Significant Damages"... Ms. A Alleges "Photo Manipulation"

Earlier this year, the woman rented a studio apartment in Manhattan, New York, for two and a half months for her studies but left early due to safety concerns. Immediately after her departure, the landlord accused her of leaving stains on the mattress and damaging appliances and furniture, demanding more than 12,000 pounds (about 20.7 million won) in compensation. However, Ms. A noticed inconsistencies in the damaged areas of the table in the submitted photos and pointed out, "These are traces of digital manipulation or AI generation," raising suspicions of photo fabrication.

A British woman refuted the photo submitted by the host as an AI-manipulated image. The Guardian

Initially, Airbnb accepted the landlord's claim and notified the woman that she would have to pay about 5,300 pounds (10 million won) in compensation. However, following an investigation by Guardian Money, her appeal was accepted. In the end, Ms. A received a full refund for her accommodation, and the host's negative review was removed.

Ms. A expressed concern, saying, "Consumers without financial or time resources to fight back could easily fall victim to such false claims," and added, "It should not be so easy for claims for damages to be accepted based on AI-generated or manipulated images."

Increase in AI Misuse Disputes... Verification Systems Urgently Needed

The landlord in question was registered as a "Superhost" on Airbnb but received a warning as a result of this incident and may be removed if similar cases occur again. Airbnb stated, "We take damage claims seriously and review all evidence to reach a proportionate conclusion for both parties. We also have an appeals process in place to ensure fairness," and issued an apology, promising an internal review of the entire case handling process.

Serpil Hall, director of economic crime at security consulting firm Baringa, told The Guardian, "Image and video manipulation is now easier and cheaper than ever," pointing out that false insurance claims using manipulated photos are also increasing in the automotive and home repair sectors. She emphasized, "Since it is difficult to make judgments based solely on images in disputes, forensic verification tools and fraud detection models are essential."