Airbnb is banning any and all use of indoor security cameras moving forward.
The San Francisco-based home-sharing service announced that the policy change will take effect on April 30 and impact listings globally "as part of efforts to simplify our policy on security cameras and other devices and to continue to prioritize the privacy of our community."
Previously, hosts were allowed to install and operate indoor security cameras in common areas like hallways and living rooms as long as they were disclosed on the listing page and clearly visible to guests, who have expressed concerns over undisclosed cameras.
Airbnb, which recently upgraded its booking platform, has never allowed hosts to operate security cameras in private spaces such as sleeping areas or bathrooms and said the "update is expected to impact a smaller subset of listings on the platform" as a majority of listings do not report having security cameras.
"Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb," Airbnb’s Head of Community Policy and Partnerships, Juniper Downs, said in a statement. "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."
Woman browsing Airbnb listings. (Photo Credit: Daniel Krason/Adobe)
Airbnb's revised policy also includes more comprehensive rules on the use of outdoor security cameras and devices such as noise decibel monitors to improve privacy for guests.
"Hosts will be required to disclose the presence and general location of any outdoor cameras before guests book. These cameras will also be prohibited from monitoring indoor spaces of a listing and are not allowed in certain outdoor areas where there’s a greater expectation of privacy, like an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna," the company said.
"Hosts are also required to disclose the presence of noise decibel monitors, which assess decibel level only and do not record or transmit sounds or conversations and are only allowed in common spaces of listings."
After April 30, Airbnb said "reported violations of this policy brought to our attention will be investigated, and action we take can include listing or account removal."
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