Airbnb has taken a significant step to safeguard the privacy of its guests by prohibiting the use of indoor security cameras in its listings globally. This decision, announced on Monday, comes after numerous reports of hidden cameras over the years.
While the majority of Airbnb’s listings, which numbered more than 7 million worldwide at the end of last year, do not report having indoor security cameras, the company recognized the need to prioritize guest privacy and implemented this policy change.
Previously, Airbnb allowed indoor security cameras in common areas, provided they were disclosed on the listing page before booking and visible to guests. However, the revised policy simplifies the approach, as stated in the company’s statement: “The update to this policy simplifies our approach and makes clear that security cameras are not allowed inside listings, regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure.”
The new policy, which takes effect on April 30, also includes more thorough rules on the use of outdoor security cameras and other devices such as noise decibel monitors, which are required to be disclosed before guests book. Outdoor cameras will not be permitted in certain areas “where there’s a greater expectation of privacy,” such as a sauna.
Vrbo, another vacation rental company, has a similar stance, stating that it does not allow any form of surveillance device inside a property, except for smart devices “as long as you have been informed of their presence and given the option to deactivate them.”
The concern over hidden cameras has gained significant attention, with a dedicated TikTok page showing users how to find them. One video by cybersecurity specialist and ex-hacker Marcus Hutchins has garnered 5 million views, advising viewers to “look for devices that are suspiciously placed and shine a bright light at it. If you hit a camera lens, it’s going to give a blue-ish reflection,” he said.
In a 2022 interview with NPR, Thorin Klosowski, who at the time was privacy and security editor at Wirecutter, also recommended unplugging “anything that looks kind of fishy, whether that’s an alarm clock or just a USB plug that seems random in the wall.”
The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a group that serves those targeted by surveillance abuse, welcomed the ban. “No one should have to worry about being recorded in a rental, whether the bedroom, the living room, or a hall,” said Albert Fox Cahn, the group’s executive director. “Getting rid of these cameras is a clear win for privacy and safety, and we know that these recording devices are ripe for abuse.”
