Stu Horne
Feb 17, 2023
Concern over increase in reporting of covert cameras used by hosts
An alarming number of reports are being reported by guests to Airbnb’s.
The popular short stay accommodation broker allows people to rent a private person’s room or property via an online portal.
Airbnb take a commission for the transaction and the guest’s deal with the property owners to arrange their visit and pay for their experience.
For most visitors their chosen property experience is a good one. Guests can stay in self-contained rooms, guests’ suites, have the whole property to themselves or choose to be part of the hosts household, sharing meals and conveniences.
In recent years, there has been a significant reporting in guests finding hidden cameras in the property they have rented. These covert cameras have been planted by the host, in some cases for the secret camera to capture guests’ behaviour and simply to keep an eye on them, but in other circumstances the surveillance cameras have been used to record for the purpose of more sinister intentions, filming intimate and private activities of the guests hiding a camera in bathrooms and bedrooms.
The motive for hiding a camera in a guest’s room is clearly a matter for concern with nearly all the guests stating how vulnerable, violated and exposed they felt, adding how anxious they felt about where the footage has ended up, for private gratification or to share with others on the internet.
Although Airbnb has strict policies in relation to the use of recording devices in their properties, including the ban on hidden cameras in private areas, this has not prevented some hosts taking advantage of their guests relaxed awareness.
In some countries where Airbnb is popular, they have taken special steps to safeguard the privacy of guests of such intrusive surveillance implementing strict laws to govern those who act as hosts and what will happen if they breach those laws.
If you want to find out if your property has hidden cameras planted, contact Bug Sweeper Services today and speak to one of our team for FREE advice.