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Airbnb followed the trend of numerous internet-related and IT companies by locating a major executive presence in Dublin, Ireland. Here, Airbnb has located its European HQ. This comes on the back of considerable proliferation of Irish based 'Airbnb hosts'. Anecdotal evidence suggests a huge cross section of socio-economic groups taking the decision to become such hosts and, though not necessarily following, there would seem to be an array of standards on offer to the discerning 'guest'. For some hosts this would seem to be a lifeline, for others an entertaining frivolity to bolster pocket money...
...Airbnb having profited nicely by taking the position of middle man in all this are now, like a sleeping cow being tipped, willing to play dead and sing like the proverbial parrot regarding the private data of hosts. This would seem to fly in the face of combative stances taken by companies such as Microsoft and Google, having similar status in Ireland, in recent times.
Where does this sit on the Uber/big-data/privacy/capitalism/tax haven/governance spectrum?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2015, @12:47AM
The crux of the matter the author was trying to get at is this:
Revenue are the overzealous body here in Ireland, analogous to what the IRS are in the U.S.A. We'll all have our version of this wherever we are I'm sure. Historically in Ireland Revenue are labelled as chasing the working class hero while the wealthy land owing class afford ever-so-creative accounting practices and evade paying taxes on all but the most derisive, paltry declared incomes.
It isn't practical to explore the nuances of the property market in Ireland here, but it is both blatant and subtle. Add to that flagrant bank corruption which ended badly and what you’re left with is a zero-sum situation for the working class hero in what was a 20 year period of immense economic growth. Some people are left with severe negative equity and conversely a substantial minority are sitting on or in a portfolio of sprawling opulent properties.
Now bring in various multinationals, including Airbnb who are no doubt happy to chow down on a double-Irish with a Dutch Sandwich (and Ireland is happy to serve it). Airbnb knew exactly what would happen and they let it play out because that's their prerogative as a self-made 'middleman'. At least other multinationals put up a fight when it came to handing over big datasets. It's corporate laziness, irresponsibility and vulgarity on Airbnb's part. Indeed they ought to arise the MAD, tipped cow.
There are many sorts of many problems here, on all sides. For example, there is a huge disparity between the minimum wage and the cost of accommodation, this can only be worsened by the presence of Airbnb. Sure, a tax loophole of whatever variety will have all groups queueing to diddle the Gubbermint(s). Is it not a little abhorrent though that Airbnb are showing no corporate responsibility of any kind, re: homelessness, re: the very data they made their profit upon? . The well off can afford to absorb this or hide it. The not so well off… What makes this better than reckless fracking or a plague of locusts? There's a tech angle to this somewhere!
I know, I know, I’ve done it again. I cannot write concisely AND comprehensively AND coherently. My time is finite…I mean the author’s is. I’m going back inside my Faraday cage.