Ever get the feeling you’re being watched… while on holiday?
Global travel and accommodation platform Airbnb announced it’s banning indoor cameras in property listings worldwide as it aims to tighten safety measures for users.
Taking effect from April 30, the popular accommodation website suggested the change was part of “efforts to simplify our policy on security cameras and other devices and to continue to prioritise the privacy of our community”.
Such surveillance has been permissible in common living areas to date — namely hallways and living rooms — though the cameras must have been “disclosed on the listing page before booking, clearly visible” and not located in “sleeping areas and bathrooms”.
To avoid any grey area, the organisation believes this requirement will simplify their approach and shut the door on any such use moving forward — regardless of “location, purpose or prior disclosure”.
Airbnb’s Head of Community Policy and Partnerships, Juniper Downs, suggested the global enterprise consulted numerous stakeholders before announcing the overhaul.
“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb,” Ms Downs said.
“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.”
It is expected only a small portion of properties will be affected by the requirements.
In addition to the crackdown on indoor cameras, comprehensive reform will include new rules on outdoor security cameras and noise monitoring devices.
Doorbell cameras and noise decibel monitors are common protection tools negating unauthorised parties or unwanted visitors, and hosts will now be required to declare the presence of such devices on the platform.
To see the full suite of changes, see Airbnb’s official policy update.