As of April 30, Airbnb hosts around the world will have to remove indoor security cameras from their short-term rentals to comply with the platform’s new rules or risk having their listing removed and their account revoked.
“I’m delighted that these rules have been imposed,” says Ann Cavoukian, the executive director of global privacy and security at Toronto Metropolitan University and the former privacy commissioner of Ontario. “When you rent someone’s place on Airbnb, you are assuming that is going to be your home for a period of time. Surely in your home, you want to have some privacy to be able to do whatever you wish to do and not have it broadcast to the rest of the world.”
In addition to the new indoor security camera rules, Airbnb has also introduced restrictions around the use of outdoor security cameras and noise decibel monitors. The changes are being introduced to enhance privacy for guests and provide greater clarity and guidance for hosts.
“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,” said Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, in a statement.
It’s difficult to say how many hosts use indoor security cameras unless they voluntarily disclose them, however, Airbnb says it expects the change to affect a small number of listings, citing the majority of listings don’t report having a security camera.
What hosts can and can’t do with security cameras
Often hosts will use security cameras to monitor their property when it’s vacant, to ensure guests comply with the no-party rules or other bylaws, or to have video evidence if there is a violation of the rental agreement. While Cavoukian understands why a host might want to use a security camera in a rental, she argues the use of security cameras in a rental context is excessive.
“You should definitely have an agreement [in place] before your property is rented so the guests know the terms and conditions of the rental, i.e. that they are required to keep the noise within a certain level,” she says. “That’s the kind of thing you should have in place, not security cameras and noise devices inside.”
Another consideration for hosts is how vulnerable security cameras are to hacking. “Third parties can gain unauthorized access. And who knows what they’ll do with your data,” says Cavoukian.
B.C. renters horrified to find hidden cameras in the bathrooms of their Airbnb
If you are a guest and happen to find an indoor camera in the place you are renting, you can take it to court.
In an Airbnb forum discussing the new rules, some hosts are threatening to unlist their properties over concerns that the public disclosure of the location of security cameras leaves them vulnerable to theft. For hosts that rent out rooms, there’s also confusion around what is defined as a common area in those contexts. Airbnb has loosely defined common areas in shared spaces as living rooms and kitchens.
Related Story B.C. renters horrified to find hidden cameras in the bathrooms of their Airbnb
Related Story Vosker V150 review: A security camera made for off-gridders