Airbnb is banning indoor security cameras inside properties listed on its rental site.
The company previously allowed cameras in common spaces such as living rooms and hallways, so long as the camera was properly disclosed in the listing. Now the company is reversing that rule, citing privacy concerns.
“Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb,” Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, said in a press release Monday. “These changes were made in consultation with our guests, Hosts and privacy experts, and we’ll continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community.”
The new rule is expected to only affect a handful of properties, as most Airbnb listings do not have indoor cameras. Outdoor cameras such as doorbells will continue to be allowed as a “privacy-protective way for Hosts to monitor security.”
The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, praised the company’s move.
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“No one should have to worry about being recorded in a rental, whether the bedroom, the living room, or a hall,” Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn said. “Getting rid of these cameras is a clear win for privacy and safety, and we know that these recording devices are ripe for abuse.”
The policy will take effect April 30.