Let's go back to the original post:
I agree the policy is extremely unfair and dangerous for hosts and guests alike. It seems to me this is the classical "good intentions gone wrong" situation. My story refers to a home fully dedicated to Airbnb (no host, or shared/common spaces).
My alarm company provides a device similar to the one Conrad76 describes: it is a "motion sensor with a camera that takes a snapshot if the sensor is triggered when the alarm is on". As my alarm provider is aware of Airbnb (and general) privacy concerns and regulations, the sensor comes with a physical cover for the camera shutter. When the lid is closed, the device CANNOT take pictures and cannot be considered as a camera. Yet, I have been asked formally by Airbnb to remove it.
I am very disappointed.
- The only person who can actually open the lid of the camera is the guest, and maybe they would be happy to use it if using the alarm would make them feel safer.
- The motion sensor is in plain sight and the guest can easily check if the lid is open or closed
- My house manual explain this to the guest.
Why I think the policy is wrong and wrongly written.
- Even if you make it physically impossible for a device to record or take photos, Airbnb still consider it is a threat to privacy, can anyone explain me how? I agree software and electrical disconnections as difficult to prove to guests, but a physical, thick plastic cover is different.
- Even if Airbnb would agree on the above (i.e. if the lid is closed, the motion sensor cannot be considered a camera), the policy would need to be re-written. A dishonest guest could easily remove the lid and pretend it was already open upon arrival, which would put the host in a bad spot. This is the reason for which, regardless the fact I am escalating this to Airbnb support to ask for a policy correction, I am removing the motion sensors for now and until the policy is made more clear (if ever).
- The only way to comply with the current policy is to remove cameras. This can lead owners to delist their Airbnbs and eventually will reduce Airbnb inventory. Imagine hosts renting one room only or taking off alarm systems from all the large properties/villas/luxury homes on Airbnb, or the potential effect on properties with high seasonality that stay empty (or almost empty) in the low season: how can an owner protect their house?
- From a guest perspective, Airbnb public calendar is a great way for thieves to know if a specific unit has guests. Tourists carry cash, valuables, cameras, laptops. I think a guest that freely decides to use the house alarm is actually protecting themselves and their family. They can decide if use the cameras or not, but no alarm (or weaker alarm) means they are less protected by a rule that was thought to "protect them" and this is ironically sad.
I understand the "good intentions" of Airbnb as it with respect to hidden cameras and unreasonable cameras placed to supervise guests activities. As a guest and as an owner, I do. I just don't feel modern alarm systems, designed with privacy in mind, and complying with the (very strict) privacy laws of my country should be declared unsafe under the operating conditions I have described above.
