Earlier this week, Airbnb announced that they are prohibiting the use of indoor security cameras for their properties around the world. Alongside, they announced rules for outdoor cameras and other devices as well.
With an effort to “prioritize the privacy of our community,” Airbnb is creating new rules to ensure privacy and comfort for guests. Previously cameras were allowed to be placed in common areas (living room, hallways, etc.) but made it a policy to disclose such on the listing page.
Hosts will now be required to disclose the location of any outdoor cameras as well as the presence of noise decibel monitors on the listing page. The revised policy for indoor and outdoor monitoring takes effect on April 30.
This policy change comes into effect following the investigation of hidden cameras being found in Airbnb locations in Canada and Malaysia. These instances caused much consternation due to the invasive nature of the offenses.
A girl’s birthday trip went sour while staying at an Airbnb in British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast as one of the women on the trip claimed she found a hidden camera in each of the two bathrooms. A few days later after their stay in mid-March, she reported the findings to the police who began to investigate.
Much to Airbnb’s dismay, this event went viral on TikTok with millions of views but turned out to be false. Authorities were able to confirm that the areas of concern were actually just electrical outlets.
Around the same time, however, this instance was in London (CA), police were contacted in July as a couple staying at an Airbnb noticed a hidden camera in a bedroom, which is against Airbnb policy. As noted above, cameras were previously allowed in common areas but not private quarters.
The subsequent search by the police “located video evidence of voyeurism” which led to charging one man with one count of voyeurism.
Both of these incidents were isolated local instances but a skit on the primetime show Saturday Night Live which aired in early March put the company in the national limelight. The skit made jokes about cameras in the toilet of an Airbnb listing.
Due to these and other incidents, Airbnb’s goal is to now “create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb.” Hosts have until April 30 to make the appropriate changes and if they don’t, they will face consequences including listing or account removal on the platform.