Can I use GDPR to read an Airbnb review about me before I post mine?
<p>I just had a bad experience with Airbnb. The circumstances would be too long to describe and not relevant to my question. The fact is that I just have had an email that the host (I am the guest) let me a review and that I can read it after I post mine. I am considering, but reluctant, to make a GDPR access request to access it (before I post mine). This review, whatever it is, seems to clearly be a personal information that Airbnb have on me. Would I have the right to do it? Has something similar already tried? I am EU consumer residing in the UE. If the comment appear to be bad. Could I, under the GDPR, ask for it to be removed? </p>

<p>Personal data is any information relating to an identifiable person. The review relates to you, so you are the data subject and have a right to access. Airbnb is not required to provide this information through their normal procedures (e.g. their website interface), but would have to produce this information in response to a data subject request.</p>

<p>An alternative standpoint is that the review is not information, but just some document. The GDPR cannot be used as a dragnet to get access to all documents that happen to mention you.</p>

<p>Whereas your right to access is pretty absolute, your right to erasure is not. It only applies under comparatively narrow circumstances. You cannot use the GDPR to censor what other people say about you. Even if you delete your entire account, Airbnb might argue that they have an overriding legitimate interest to keep the review on file, in case you try evading bad reviews by starting a new account.</p>

<p>Also note that the GDPR gives the data controller one month to respond to any requests, which can be extended to two months. This might be longer than the time frame Airbnb gives you to write your review.</p>

gdpr