Airbnb prohibits the use of indoor security cameras in all of its listings, the company said was announced on Monday. Previously, Airbnb allowed hosts to have indoor security cameras in common areas such as hallways and living rooms as long as they disclosed them on their listing page and did not place them in bathrooms and areas where guests sleep.
In a suspension, the company said it now bans indoor security cameras “regardless of location, purpose or prior disclosure.” Airbnb says the majority of listings on its platform don’t list an indoor security camera, and that the update will only affect “a smaller subset of listings.” The change comes after numerous reports of visitors being found hidden cameras in their rents. The update won’t get rid of the hidden camera issue, as it targets rule-abiding hosts.
Airbnb is also introducing new rules for outdoor security cameras and noise decibel monitors. Hosts should disclose the presence and location of external cameras prior to booking guests. Hosts may not use outdoor cameras to monitor indoor spaces and may not place them in private outdoor areas, such as an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna.
Hosts must also disclose the use of decibel noise monitors, which are used to determine if a prohibited party is taking place, in the common areas of their listings. Airbnb has permanently banned parties from all of its listings in 2020.
“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that give our community greater clarity about what to expect at Airbnb,” Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, said in the company’s blog post. “These changes were made in consultation with our visitors, hosts and privacy experts, and we will continue to seek feedback to ensure our policies work for our global community.”
The new policy takes effect on April 30. If a host violates the new rules and a guest reports the presence of a camera, Airbnb will investigate and possibly remove the listing or account from the platform.
