Airbnb petitions court to block AG’s subpoena

Popular short-term rental website Airbnb has moved to block a subpoena by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, characterizing the investigation as an “unfounded fishing expedition.” Airbnb filed papers in State Supreme Court on Oct. 9 petitioning to keep private its data on the estimated 15,000 users who use the platform to host guests.

A spokesperson for Schneiderman told WNYC that Aibnb’s filing was a stalling tactic, and added that he was confident the courts would “allow the attorney general to enforce the law.”

Airbnb’s deadline to comply with the subpoena — part of an investigation by the attorney general into illegal short-term rentals — was yesterday. [WNYC]  – Hiten Samtani