Airbnb is tightening the screw. After banning parties using new technology, the company is asking hosts to forego the use of indoor security cameras. It was Monday March 11 that the service unveiled this new instruction which aims to “prioritize privacy”. The rule will apply from April 30, 2024, and France is concerned.
Endgame for indoor cameras
Until now, Airbnb allowed cameras in hallways, living rooms and front doors. The vacation rental application required them to be visible to avoid spying and to report their presence in the ads. Obviously, they were prohibited in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Next month, Airbnb will ban all indoor security cameras “even if these devices are turned off”. They will therefore have to be removed permanently, no choice for the owners.
Outdoor security cameras will also be subject to new rules. Hosts will specify their usage and location prior to guest booking. They cannot be pointed towards interior spaces or “certain outdoor areas where privacy is expected”. For example, a sauna, a Nordic bath or a jacuzzi.
Voyeurs caught by the courts
Several vacationers had the unpleasant surprise of being spied on by hidden cameras. In December 2022, a woman reported the presence of two cameras hidden in the accommodation she rented in Rouen, as explained North Coast.
Similar story for Camille D., who spent a night in Ygrande with her husband. As reported Release, she was contacted by the gendarmes, six months after the rental, who informed her that other tenants had discovered cameras in the apartment rented on Airbnb. These numerous stories are often relayed in the press.