The short-term rental platform said the decision was made as part of its efforts to “prioritize community privacy.”
Airbnb has banned indoor surveillance cameras at its properties around the world due to privacy concerns.
The short-term rental platform announced Monday that it made the decision as part of its efforts to simplify its security camera policies and “prioritize the privacy of our community.”
Airbnb, headquartered in San Francisco, previously allowed security cameras to be installed in common areas such as living rooms, as long as they were published in the listing and clearly visible.
“These changes were made in consultation with guests, hosts, and privacy experts, and we continue to seek feedback to ensure our policies work for our global community,” Airbnb's Community Policy and Head of Partnerships Juniper Downs said in a statement. statement.
The move comes after years of occasional reports of Airbnb users finding hidden cameras in their properties.
Airbnb said it expects the change to only affect “some properties” as the majority of properties do not report installing security cameras.
Airbnb said hosts will still be allowed to install doorbell cameras and noise decibel monitors to address issues such as unauthorized parties.
However, the company says hosts must disclose the presence and general location of outdoor cameras before accepting reservations.
Also, outdoor cameras cannot be used to monitor indoor spaces or placed in outdoor spaces where there is a greater expectation of privacy, such as shower areas.
The rental platform said the revised policy will come into effect from April 30 to give hosts time to comply with the new rules.