Airbnb Bans Indoor Security Cameras

Airbnb Bans , Indoor Security Cameras.

The company's policy changes, intended to provide guests with more privacy, were announced on March 11, NPR reports.

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Indoor cameras were previously allowed in common areas if they were disclosed to guests and clearly visible.

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The update to this policy simplifies our approach and makes clear that security cameras are not allowed inside listings, regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure, Airbnb, via announcement.

The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project welcomed the ban, which takes effect globally on April 30.

No one should have to worry about being recorded in a rental, whether the bedroom, the living room, or a hall, Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, via statement.

Getting rid of these cameras is a clear win for privacy and safety, and we know that these recording devices are ripe for abuse, Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, via statement.

Airbnb's revised policy will also prohibit outdoor cameras in places "where there's a greater expectation of privacy," like a sauna.

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Hidden cameras have become an issue at property rentals in recent years, NPR reports.

Former Wirecutter privacy and security editor Thorin Klosowski suggests unplugging "anything that looks kind of fishy, whether that's an alarm clock or just a USB plug that seems random in the wall.".

Cybersecurity specialist Marcus Hutchins, who is also an ex-hacker, recommends shining a bright light at suspicious devices.

If you hit a camera lens, it's going to give a blue-ish reflection, Marcus Hutchins, cybersecurity specialist and ex-hacker, via NPR