EU investigates Booking.com over fake listings and scams
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Booking.com over concerns that the online travel platform may have failed to adequately address fake accommodation listings, phishing scams and the transparency of paid search results.
Announced Wednesday, the investigation will assess whether the company complied with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires platforms to evaluate and mitigate risks associated with illegal content and fraudulent activity.
“Europeans should be able to book their holidays without fear of being scammed,” Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said in a statement.
The investigation does not establish that Booking.com has breached EU law. Regulators said its findings will determine whether further action is warranted.
Fake properties and hidden advertising under scrutiny
The Commission will examine whether Booking.com properly assessed the risks posed by fraudulent accommodation listings and took effective measures to prevent users from being misled.
Investigators will also assess phishing scams involving booking information and guest data, including whether the platform adequately protects reservation details from misuse.
Another focus is advertising transparency. Regulators will investigate whether accommodation providers can pay for higher positions in search results without those listings being clearly identified as advertisements.
The inquiry will assess whether users can distinguish sponsored results from ordinary search listings and whether the platform's safeguards sufficiently address the risks of fraud.
Platform lists 4.4 million properties worldwide
Booking.com is one of the world's largest online travel platforms and a major brand within US-listed Booking Holdings, which also owns Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK and OpenTable.
According to its parent company's annual report, Booking.com listed approximately 4.4 million properties as of Dec. 31, 2025. These included around 3.9 million alternative accommodations, such as homes and apartments, and approximately 500,000 hotels, motels and resorts.
Booking Holdings reported $26.9 billion in revenue for 2025, while its brands collectively recorded 1.235 billion room nights, an increase of 8% from the previous year.
The scale of the platform makes consumer protection and transparency central issues in the Commission's investigation.
Fines could reach 6% of global turnover
Depending on the findings, the Commission could impose interim measures, adopt a decision establishing a breach of EU rules or accept commitments from Booking.com to address its concerns.
Under the Digital Services Act, violations can result in fines of up to 6% of a company's worldwide annual turnover.
The investigation's launch does not prejudge its outcome, and the Commission has yet to establish whether Booking.com violated the bloc's digital regulations.
