Airbnb announced Monday that it will ban the use of indoor surveillance cameras in all listings. Airbnb previously allowed hosts to install indoor surveillance cameras in common areas such as hallways and living rooms, as long as they disclosed them on their listing page and did not install them in bathrooms or areas where guests sleep.
The company said in a blog post that it prohibits the use of indoor surveillance cameras “regardless of location, purpose, or prior disclosure.” Airbnb said the majority of listings on its platform do not report indoor surveillance camera installations, and that the update only affects “some listings.” This change was made following numerous reports of guests discovering hidden cameras in their rental rooms. This update does not address the hidden camera issue, as it targets hosts that comply with the rules.
Airbnb is also introducing new rules regarding outdoor surveillance cameras and noise decibel monitors. Hosts must disclose the existence and location of outdoor cameras before guests book. Hosts cannot monitor indoor spaces using outdoor cameras. Additionally, outdoor cameras are not allowed in private outdoor areas such as enclosed outdoor showers or saunas.
Hosts must also disclose the use of noise decibel monitors used to determine if prohibited parties are occurring in the listing's common areas. Airbnb permanently banned parties from all listings in 2020.
“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide more clarity on what our community can expect on Airbnb,” said Juniper Downs, Airbnb's head of community policy and partnerships. mentioned in a blog post. “These changes were made in consultation with guests, hosts, and privacy experts, and we will continue to solicit feedback to ensure our policies work for our global community.”
The new policy will go into effect on April 30th. If a host violates the new rules and a guest reports the presence of a camera, Airbnb will investigate and may remove the listing or account from the platform.