TL;DR: it's just using the WiFi networks' names to decide whether you're close or not.

I thought "environmental fingerprints" were referring to something more elaborate, like a fingerprint of the local audio environment, or using the accelerometer to measure the local spacetime curvature.

[flagged]

One could say, the GeLLMann amnesia effect. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

https://www.booking.com/content/terms.en-gb.html

"[...] A5. Our values

1. You will:

[...]

- not use the Platform to cause a nuisance or make fake bookings

[...]

If you breach these Terms (including our values and our Content standards and guidelines) or fail to comply with applicable laws or regulations, we have the right to:

- stop you making any bookings,

- cancel any bookings you’ve already made

[...]"

She made two bookings, one of which she intended to cancel from the get go, in other words, it was a fake booking.

"When Mann booked the accommodations, Formula One organizers hadn't locked in the exact race dates. So she covered her bases — reserving the same four-bedroom unit for two possible weekends in May 2026, both with free cancellation.

Once the official dates were announced, she cancelled the extra booking, in line with Booking.com rules."

And then Booking.com cancelled her booking, in line with Booking.com rules. Shit goes both ways.