The European Commission has initiated formal proceedings against the travel portal Booking, intending to investigate potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Brussels authority reported on Wednesday that the platform may have violated the DSA by failing to adequately assess or mitigate risks related to fraudulent listings and phishing scams. Furthermore, the investigation will also examine possible infringements concerning the transparency of paid entries within search results.
The Commission intends to conduct an in-depth examination and gather further evidence for the case. In this process, it will collaborate with the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets. However, the commencement of these proceedings does not signify that a final decision has been reached.
Vice Commission President Henna Virkkunen stated that “Europeans should be able to book their holidays without being deceived.” She emphasized that the Digital Services Act establishes clear responsibilities for platforms to tackle these risks, adding, “We must ensure that the leading booking platform in Europe takes these responsibilities seriously.”
