Airbnb will ban all indoor cameras for apartments advertised on its vacation rental platform. In announcing it, the company says that it aspires to “simplify its security camera policies and continue prioritizing the privacy of our community.” The measure will be effective from April 30 and throughout the world. Until now, Airbnb allowed indoor cameras in common rooms such as hallways and living rooms, as long as the owners openly advertised them on their pages and they were clearly visible. From now on not anymore.
The platform will continue to allow cameras at the entrance door, next to intercoms, and decibel control monitors. Owners must also disclose the presence of these exterior cameras and noise monitors in their listings prior to any reservation. Decibel controls, the company specifies, must not be able to record any type of conversation, nor transmit sounds, nor can they be placed in more private spaces.
In a note, Airbnb specifies that hotels on its platform “have permission to have cameras that monitor common spaces such as receptions, hallways and restaurants.” The company maintains some ambiguity with cameras at properties that have outdoor spaces: “Hosts will be required to disclose the presence and general location of any outdoor cameras prior to booking. “These cameras will not be able to monitor indoor spaces and will not be permitted in certain outdoor areas where there is a greater expectation of privacy, such as an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna.”
Most of its listings, Airbnb says, no longer had indoor cameras, so it doesn’t expect many properties to be affected. The announcement comes after several viral videos revealed the presence of cameras in houses or apartments rented on Airbnb. The practice had spread so much that methods for scanning rooms and detecting cameras had become popular. If a guest finds a camera indoors after April 30, Airbnb will investigate and the listing may be removed or the owner’s account may even be deleted.