Hi Ange:
I tried for a number of weeks to get a straight answer out of AirBNB, and they ducked at every turn. To answer a few of your comments though, AirBNB at no point in our conversations denied that:
1) Nothing in the Terms of Service limit liability, or avoid a class action where AirBNB was negligent in their protection of client data;
2) While Hosts are told to obtain insurance, they likely have no inkling as to the fact that they may need Cyber coverage (and that could make Hosting uneconomical!); and that
3) AIrBNB appear to be willfully ignoring the potential for data leakage by requesting guest personally identifiable information, providing that data to a 3rd party, and having NO certification in place to indicate they or AirBNB have taken appropriate procedures to protect that personally identifiable guest data.
My conversation with AirBNB ran over a six week period with numerous emails exchanged. I asked to speak or have a conversation with their Chief Security Officer or equivalent, and that never happened (although you can be fairly certain that person, or their equivalent, was notified of my concerns).
AirBNB isn't safe for either Hosts or Visitors. When it comes to the handling or personal information they have been very opaque and have shuffled it off to a third party who clearly don't have ISO 27001 or SOC2 procedures in place.
It may be harsh, but AirBNB are not to be trusted with personal data, and as a Host I'd be sure to have cyber insurance in place if you are going to be asking for personal information.
You raise valid concerns about Host security, but at least you have something, and I'm sure AirBNB can put other procedures in place (advance hold for the amount of stay on credit cards, for instance), or insurance from their end against fraudulent activity.
In my humble opinion, even being a host and taking personal information, is rolling the dice. Even a decade from now a leak of information coudl haunt you, disrupt your life, and result in a significant claim for damages - better hope AirBNB is around to cover you.