Airbnb has patented software that digs through social media to root out people who display 'narcissism or psychopathy'

• Airbnb has software designed to scan someone's online presence, including social media, to predict their behavior and personality traits.
• The software, first reported by Evening Standard, is meant to flag people who show signs of "narcissism, Machiavellianism, or psychopathy," among other traits.
• Airbnb has faced an uphill battle to screen people using its app amid reports of guests' rowdy parties and long-term scams run by hosts.
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If you've been rejected from booking an Airbnb rental, it may be because the app's artificial intelligence determined that you're a psychopath.

Airbnb has software that's meant to scan people's online presence to predict whether they're trustworthy, according to a patent filed last year. The software digs through people's internet posts, including social media activity, to detect illegal activity and scan for traits including "neuroticism," "narcissism, Machiavellianism, or psychopathy."

The short-term rental app has attempted to ensure the safety of guests and hosts in the wake of several high-profile crises in the past year. The company banned parties in its listings after five people were killed in an October shooting at an Airbnb in California, and other hosts have accused guests of incurring millions of dollars in damage.

According to a recent VICE report, Airbnb is also grappling with fraudulent hosts running long-term scams through the app.

An Airbnb spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The screening software uses artificial intelligence to root out people using fake profiles, as well as people whose online activity reveals a history of sex work, illegal drug use, or affiliation with hate websites, according to the patent filing.

Airbnb's website says that the app uses "predictive analytics and machine learning" to flag suspicious accounts, but it's not clear whether the patented software is being used. Airbnb acquired the patent after buying the background check startup Trooly, according to Evening Standard.