Airbnb said it’s prohibiting the use of indoor security cameras in all of its listings worldwide, no matter their purpose or location.
In an effort to simplify its policy on security cameras and other devices, hosts will not be allowed to make use of cameras in any area of the house, effective April 30, the corporate said in a Monday update on its policy.
Any violations of the revised policy will likely be investigated and the listing or account holder could potentially be faraway from the platform, in line with the home-share company.
Previously, hosts have been in a position to use indoor security cameras inside common areas of a property, like hallways and living rooms, so long as it was disclosed on the listing’s page before booking.
Cameras, nevertheless, were banned in areas corresponding to bathrooms and bedrooms.
“The update to this policy simplifies our approach and makes clear that security cameras are usually not allowed inside listings, no matter their location, purpose or prior disclosure,” Airbnb said.
Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, said the update provides “greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb,” and relies on conversations the corporate had with guests, hosts and privacy experts.
Airbnb said nearly all of its listings don’t have a security camera, so this update is barely “expected to affect a smaller subset of listings on the platform.”
Hosts will still give you the chance to make use of devices like doorbell cameras and noise decibel monitors, so hosts can proceed to “monitor security for his or her home and get ahead of issues like unauthorized parties.”
Nevertheless, they’re required to reveal that their listing has outdoor cameras and where they’re positioned before guests book.
Those devices can also’t monitor indoor spaces or areas outside where “there’s a greater expectation of privacy, like an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna,” the corporate said.
Hosts must also disclose in the event that they have noise decibel monitors, which assess decibel levels only and don’t record or transmit sounds or conversations.
Those devices are only allowed in common spaces of listings, in line with the corporate.
