According to Airbnb, the usage of security cameras inside of rental homes will now be prohibited globally.
The company’s new policies will take effect at the end of the next month.
The online rental company claims that by making this change, it hopes to prioritize guest privacy and simplify its policies around security cameras.
Concerns over the usage of inside surveillance cameras have already been expressed by Airbnb users.
Juniper Downs, Head of Community Policy and Partnerships at Airbnb, 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.”
“As the majority of listings on Airbnb do not report having a security camera, this update is expected to impact a smaller subset of listings on the platform,” she stated.
Present Airbnb policies permit the installation of security cameras in shared spaces like living rooms and corridors, provided that the location of the equipment is indicated on the property listing.
The use of external cameras with inside property views is also prohibited by the revised rules. Placement of security cameras in private spaces, such as toilets and bedrooms, is prohibited by Airbnb.
The usage of noise monitors and doorbell cameras in common spaces is still permitted under the new regulations. Additionally, the listing page for the property must disclose these devices.
According to Airbnb, it seeks to find a balance between protecting guests’ privacy and requiring hosts to be able to keep an eye on their property’s security and be aware of issues like illegal social events.
The disclosure was made a little more than a week after the US comedy show Saturday Night Live featured a joke about a hidden camera in a restroom in a parody of an Airbnb advertisement. On YouTube, the parody has received 1.2 million views.
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