Airbnb has issued a global ban on the utilization of indoor security cameras within their listings.
On Monday, the short-term rental platform specified that indoor security cameras are now forbidden in all listings, regardless of their placement, intended use, or previous disclosure. Before, Airbnb permitted hosts to have indoor security cameras in shared spaces, provided they were transparently shared on the listing page and visible within the property. However, cameras were never permissible in private areas like bedrooms and bathrooms.
“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb,” said Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships.
Additionally, Downs noted that the new policy’s development involved input from guests, hosts, and privacy specialists. The company stressed that the majority of Airbnb listings presently do not indicate the presence of a security camera, suggesting that the policy revision should only affect a limited number of hosts.
Hosts currently utilizing indoor security cameras must remove them by April 30. Failure to comply with the new policy could result in consequences such as removing listings or suspending accounts on the platform. Outdoor security cameras, like doorbell cameras, will remain permissible on Airbnb. Nonetheless, hosts will need to disclose the existence and approximate location of any outdoor cameras to guests before they make a booking.
