Airbnb has declared it is introducing a worldwide ban on the use of security cameras inside rental properties.
The changes to the company’s policy will come into affect at the end of April 2024.
Airbnb users have previously voiced concerns about the use of indoor surveillance cameras – so now, the guests’ privacy will be prioritized.
Airbnb’s current rules allow the use of security cameras in common areas such as living rooms and hallways – as long as the location of the equipment is made clear on the property’s listing.
Airbnb does not allow surveillance cameras to be placed in private areas like bedrooms and bathrooms.
The updated policy also bans the use of outdoor cameras that point inside properties.
The new rules will still allow the use of doorbell cameras and noise monitors in common areas, disclosed in the property’s listing page.
Of course, this may bring additional challenges for hosts, such as unauthorized guests.
The development comes just over a week after Saturday Night Live aired a spoof Airbnb advert which included a joke about a camera being hidden in a toilet. The sketch has been watched 1.2 million times on YouTube.
