- Starting April 30th, Airbnb will ban the use of indoor surveillance cameras that may record guests' activities.
- Previously, cameras were allowed as long as they were disclosed in the online product description.
- While hosts say the cameras protect their property, some guests worry that they will be spied on.
Airbnb will officially ban the use of surveillance cameras in its properties, the short-term rental giant announced on Monday.
Organizers have until April 30 to remove cameras from hallways, common rooms and other indoor spaces where they were previously allowed.
Previously, cameras were allowed inside Airbnb if hosts disclosed their presence in their online listings and warned guests in advance. Airbnb has now announced that it is changing its policy to a complete ban after consulting with “guests, hosts, and privacy experts.”
Outdoor surveillance cameras can remain installed as long as they are disclosed on the list. Doorbell cameras and noise monitors will still be allowed. Airbnb previously banned cameras in sleeping areas.
Airbnb's statement regarding the surveillance camera ban says that any violations reported after April 30th may result in the removal of a host's listing or entire account.
Separate hosts and guests with Airbnb security cameras
Hosts and guests have clashed in the past over the use of surveillance cameras on Airbnb.
Some hosts claim that cameras are essential to maintaining short-term rentals and can prevent guests from being held responsible for damage or hosting a party. (Parties are also prohibited on Airbnb.)
Arizona host Zach Narus told Business Insider in 2023 that the cameras gave him a “feeling of security” during his guest stay. Nall believes the cameras keep guests “honest,” and also allow him to troubleshoot any issues that may arise when managing a bedroom cabin remotely. I was there.
Lisa Lewis said last year that cameras were essential to running her two-bedroom rental in Foley, Alabama, near the Gulf of Mexico beaches and the Florida border.
She said she used the footage to ensure guests were not unaccompanied minors and that she was not hosting large gatherings. Ms. Lewis also used the cameras to charge guests $100 who tried to check in early or check out late without giving advance notice, she said.
However, some guests have expressed concerns about feeling like they are being watched.
One person posted this on Twitter in 2021. I was spied on while using the pool. In an Airbnb after 11 p.m. In 2019, Florida resident Max Best told The Atlantic that he found an undisclosed camera in an Airbnb in Miami. He saw a small light while he was sleeping and immediately left the rental room.
“I didn't know if I was being watched live,” he told The Atlantic.
Axel Springer, the parent company of Insider Inc., is an investor in Airbnb.
