A new update to Airbnb’s security policy will prohibit all indoor security cameras across the company’s global listings.
Airbnb announced Monday that it is banning all indoor security cameras throughout its listings as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to simplify its policy on security cameras and other devices.
The updated policy will take effect on April 30, giving hosts time to comply with the platform’s new rules. If a host is found violating the new policy after April 30, Airbnb said it will investigate the report and take possible corrective actions, including listing or account removal.
Even though Airbnb has historically allowed indoor security cameras in common areas like hallways and living rooms, the company said the updated policy will simplify the approach by making it “clear that security cameras are not allowed inside listings, regardless of their location, purpose, or prior disclosure.”
“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb,” said Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships.
“These changes were made in consultation with our guests, hosts, and privacy experts, and we’ll continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community,” Downs added.
In addition to banning indoor surveillance cameras, Airbnb claims its new policy will deliver more comprehensive rules on outdoor security cameras and other devices like noise decibel monitors.
While doorbell cameras and noise decibel monitors will continue to be permitted on Airbnb listings, the company said hosts must now disclose the presence and general location of any outdoor cameras or noise decibel monitors before a guest books a stay on the platform.
Despite the decision to ban all indoor security cameras, the change is not expected to cause any significant impact on hosts since most listings already lack security cameras, Airbnb explained.
Overall, Airbnb’s new security policy received a warm welcome from the New York-based civil rights group Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), which has advocated for Airbnb to repeal its camera policy since 2022.
The organization said it welcomed the new policy banning cameras inside properties, calling it “a privacy and safety win,” according to a statement.
“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, executive director of STOP. “Getting rid of these cameras is a clear win for privacy and safety, and we know that these recording devices are ripe for abuse.”
“These cameras were always creepy and I am so grateful that Airbnb took the threat seriously,” Cahn told The Dallas Express. “No one should have to worry that they are being surveilled simply because they’re in a rental apartment’s kitchen or living room, rather than a bedroom. Vacation should be about rest and relaxation, not recordings.”
For those who want some peace of mind, Marcus Hutchins, a self-described cybersecurity specialist and former hacker, created a viral TikTok video that details how to spot hidden cameras in hotels and other vacation rentals.
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