New security camera policy is unreasonable

[Conrad76]

I presume all hosts received an email from Airbnb about security cameras, in which it says, "You’re not allowed to have cameras that monitor indoor spaces." That is completely unfair. The basic Abode security system that I have has a motion sensor with a camera that takes a snapshot if the sensor is triggered when the alarm is on, to get a picture of who or what is moving in the hallway. I disclose this in my listing, and I have a small curtain that guests can pull to cover the camera if they are concerned about privacy. Airbnb is essentially forcing me to get a different security system. How are other hosts dealing with this?

[Mary312]

I think there are exceptions to this rule I just contact the customer service and told them I have a hostel with 10 rooms that can house 20 people there's no way I can remove my camera from the refrigerators without losing hundreds of dollars each month from people eating each other's food. I was told I could keep my cameras up in the kitchen and the lobby as these are shared spaces and not a whole house rental as long as they're disclosed in the listing. 

I told them I also have a room on my property for late check out for people to keep their luggage in and I have a camera in there I said this is not a place where you should expect any type of privacy is more for security and they said that was okay

[Suzzan0]

that's unbelievable bc I told them the exact thing to them on the phone today and they said it went again their policies and said I have to remove them from the rest of the house (common areas) even though there are no cameras in the private room/bathroom. I offered to remove the common areas from my listing and they said I still had to remove them from the rest of the house

[Mary312]

When i called airbnb they looked over my listing very closely and told me my listing is an actual commercial building/hostel.  i have no living room, the only common spaces are the 2 kitchens. Maybe renting rooms out of a house is diffrent.  

[Dawn241]

Yours sounds more like a hotel, and sounds like hotels have different rules. 

[Ankit24]

I also opened a case with AirBnb support asking about the same, whether AirBnb is owning the risk should anything go wrong when multiple strangers are sharing host occupied home and should one of them accuse the host or the other guest(s) of something which may or may not be true. 

The support person kept sending me the link to the new policy or paraphrasing it but I persisted and asked the person to reach out to supervisor and find answer from the policy makers in the company.

Let's see what I am getting in response. Certainly don't agree with AirBnb's new policy about not having indoor cameras even if their locations are disclosed. Makes it unsafe for hosts as well as guests. Even hotels and a lot of businesses have cameras in common areas. Why should this be any different?

[Ankit24]

Seems like AirBnb support is not able to do much. They asked me to provide write down my concerns using this link. https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback

It goes up the food chain. I think all the people who are concerned should write  to AirBnb executives using this feedback link.

[Dawn241]

I’ve never had indoor cameras but I just left my feedback regarding disclosing exact location of outdoor cameras to anyone browsing my listing before booking and without even being a register Airbnb guest. 

[Jeff-and-Marcia0]

I absolutely agree with how unfair this policy is. Airbnb is basically saying “we value the privacy of guests but to hell with the safety and security of our hosts.” I live in my house and rent out 4 rooms inside so safety is paramount to me and my family. Not to mention possible break-ins from outside intruders. Airbnb has NO RIGHT to tell any of us to sacrifice our safety and that’s what they are doing. 
I just got off the phone with a supervisor to voice my complaint. I’m just one person. We need the power of numbers here to get them to change or at least amend this ridiculous new policy. The Airbnb “think tank” have simply not thought this through. 

[Craig-and-Lynne0]

I understand fully the requirement for guest privacy in "personal / private spaces" but the full disclosure of a hosts security systems to anyone willing to pay one nights accommodation is an appalling imposition and goes far and beyond safety and security of all individuals. Both...Guests and Hosts.

The basics of security systems are defined by.."secure"

I would question Airbnb themselves how and they operate their own security systems and if they comply with these full disclosure rules in their own  buildings and office spaces.

Interestingly..there is not even the character space in the BOX to fully disclose the detail requested.

FWIW. We have always disclosed the location of our Outdoor Cameras (2) , their field of view (coverage ) and disclosed we have no indoor cameras.  We advise guests  that their vehicle is parked in camera view and the view of the other outdoor camera.

Not so happy to reveal this to an opportunist burglar by mandate of Airbnb! Plenty of opportunity to exploit our limited system.

Go woke...go broke.

[Share0]

No need to question the Woke. Lol. I am considered to be Woke. however I do not like the idea of cameras being removed from common areas/hallways in home shares. 

[Michelle1588]

I agree and I am a black female. Go woke Go broke because I will just have to leave an authoritarian company that wants to over reach into my business. Airbnb has been woke for a long time. I remember clearly when they disregarded our right to "see" a potential guest before renting to them. They used racism as the reason to rob us of our right to see a person and feel them out by using some of our intuition along with the vetting questions. When we allowed that to happen without much resistance it just became worst and worst. May have to start over somehow independently from this platform. This new rule even goes against most state laws concerning the ways we can use cameras and recorders as long as the party is aware / consents. 

[Share0]

Go woke go broke Airbnb is actually ok for Black women. Lol. I live in Smalbany and most of my local guests are racists, sexists and unclutured. Lol. I will not dim my light because of their misunderstanding of what I represent. I make no apologies for my so called woke mindset.

[Wesleigh0]

I share the space it’s my home where I live full time with all of my belongings valuable and sentimental! 

I am sharing my home with complete strangers Airbnb may check there identity but they don’t check if they are a psychopath!

airbnb have prioritised guest privacy over hosts safety.

which is outrageous!

[Michelle1588]

I think it's even more than that. They are also making it harder to report things when they are broken or missing because if you host more than one  guest you won't know who did it unless you have cameras. Airbnb is not slick, just selfish, and here lately a bit trifling. To demand live at home hosts, which includes a single female such as myself, remove cameras that are clearly stated in my listing is bordering on criminal. They really must like lawsuits forming against them..... wait until someone gets hurt or worst.

[Jarrod60]

100% agree.  Y I just unlisted.