A growing number of travelers are discovering hidden cameras in vacation rental properties. In one case, a family discovered 8 cameras – one in every room (including the bathroom) of the vacation villa they rented in Greece. In another case, a California couple found a spy camera disguised as a smoke detector right over their bed.
If you think this is an urban legend, think again. More than half (58%) of the 2,000 Americans recently surveyed who have stayed in an Airbnb said they worry about Airbnb hidden cameras. And 11% said they’ve actually discovered at least one.
Airbnb’s policy states: “Our Standards & Expectations require that all members of the Airbnb community respect each other’s privacy. We require hosts to disclose all security cameras and other recording devices in their listings, and we prohibit any security cameras and other recording devices that are in or that observe the interior of certain private spaces (such as bedrooms and bathrooms), regardless of whether they’ve been disclosed.”
Although Airbnb is clear about forbidding hidden cameras, some hosts aren’t complying with the company’s rules. It’s best to be proactive and take matters into your own hands. Here are seven steps you can take to spot an Airbnb hidden camera and safeguard your privacy when you’re staying at a vacation rental: