The European Commission on Wednesday, 21 October, opened formal proceedings under the Digital Services Act (DSA) against Booking.com. It is assessing whether the platform may have breached the regulation. The opening of an investigation, not a fine and not a finding of guilt.

The statement says Booking.com may not have diligently assessed or effectively mitigated risks linked to fraudulent listings and phishing scams. On transparency, it may not have clearly labelled as ads those listings whose providers paid for a higher place in search results. Three lines of inquiry, not three verdicts.

First: fake listings, non-existent properties, impersonation, non-compliant offers. Second: phishing that uses reservation and guest data, plus the platform’s messaging, and whether there are safeguards against fraudulent payments. Third: paid “boosted listings” through a higher commission, which users should be able to recognise as advertising, with who paid, why they see them and how to change the settings.

If proven, the Commission writes, these would be infringements of Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, on systemic risks at very large platforms, and of Article 26(1), on identifying advertisements. “If proven”: a condition, not an operative part.

Next come requests for information, interviews or inspections. Opening the case allows interim measures, non-compliance decisions or commitments from Booking.com. It does not prejudge the outcome and does not close actions by other authorities. Booking.com has been a very large online platform since 25 April 2023; the Commission is working with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. The preliminary look included 2026 risk reports and those of the past three years, plus replies to requests of 23 September 2025 and 26 May 2026.

Until a decision, the closed fact is the opening of proceedings. This is not a fine already imposed.

Image: Ceescamel, Booking.com headquarters, Amsterdam, 21 January 2023, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; the 2023 building, not a photograph of the 21 October 2026 inquiry.

Sources consulted: European Commission to investigate how Booking.com combats scams and fraud - G4Media; Commission to investigate how Booking.com combats scams and fraud under the DSA - European Commission, 21 October 2026.