Airbnb continues its mission by announcing today that it will ban all surveillance cameras on Airbnb properties as of April 30, 2024. As an added incentive, the messages also included more detailed tips about outdoor cameras.
Today policy change there was a elementary, literal ban on the operate of cameras in the space referred to as indoor – full stop. Outdoors, cameras “are not permitted in certain outdoor areas where greater privacy is expected, such as an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna.” I suspect definitional ambiguity will continue to be an issue because most guests, like me, expect privacy whenever and wherever I have paid for the privilege, including backyards and patios. Video intercoms and noise monitors appear to still have the green lightweight.
While Airbnb’s revenues continue to grow soar (an augment of 16% from 2022 to 2023 continues a long-term trend). occupied AND beating over the last year or two from users who are fed up with exorbitant fees, long to-do lists at checkout, over-promised interiors, security issues, and terrible hosts. To gain some positive PR, Airbnb introduced more of them last year limpid prices and has some success in elimination cleaning fees. Today’s news about security cameras aligns with previous efforts to directly address guest concerns. While each of these policy changes moves the needle a little, it will take several quarters to know whether these moves will improve Airbnb’s overall image or impact revenue.
For a while, Airbnb was lax in allowing cameras to be placed outdoors wherever hosts wanted to place them, and indoors as long as they remained in common areas. Hosts were required to disclose the existence and location of cameras, but with little enforcement by Airbnb, review sites were flooded with reports of undisclosed cameras. For the host, these measures, which may also include astute home noise monitors such as Minut and Nest, can assist ensure that guests respect the property and neighbors by not stealing, engaging in partying, or other disturbing behavior. For guests, this is an invasion of privacy. This doesn’t even take into account the privacy issues with these astute cameras being hacked and then seen by people other than the host, and this issue seems to be recurring.
Although Airbnb claims that only a portion of hosts operate indoor cameras, I suspect this is merely a number reported cameras; actual consumption may be much higher. If today’s policy transparency is followed, we will create a more guest-friendly environment – but only if it is enforced. Airbnb said: “Reported violations of this policy brought to our attention will be investigated and our action may include listing or termination of your account.”
