Traveling is a privilege that lets us broaden our horizons and have fun–until it doesn’t. If you’ve ever stayed in a less-than-stellar Airbnb, you know exactly the kind of anxiety it can cause.
An Airbnb rental is subject to much less stringent third party compliance than a hotel chain is, and reports have stated that it has a ‘problem’ with hidden cameras.
Below, sort the fact from the fiction on dodgy Airbnbs, and learn the 3 essential ways to uncover hidden surveillance in an Airbnb property.
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Are Airbnbs Safe?
The safety of an Airbnb is much the same as that of any apartment or rental property because, unlike a hotel, there are no staff on-hand at every moment.
While being overly skeptical about surroundings is no way to live, it is true that there is more risk associated with an Airbnb than a regular hotel, because the company itself has little control in what actually goes on inside the property aside from its policy.
Hidden cameras in Airbnbs are prohibited, and if there are any they must be disclosed. But since the only third party ‘check’ that’s performed is an initial background check against public databases, the owner can more-or-less do as they please. Properties are never assessed.
When choosing an Airbnb property to rent, consider the following to stay safe:
– Only choose properties with 4 or 5 star ratings and at least 30 reviews, prioritizing rentals with more than 50 reviews.
– Search for properties where the Host speaks the same language as you to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings, particularly about the presence of surveillance on the property.
– Where possible, prioritize properties that are in well-populated areas as opposed to remote ones.
3 Essential Ways to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb
1. Check alarm systems, bathrooms, mirrors, and electronic devices
If suspicious while staying in an Airbnb rental, emphasize checking alarm systems, bathrooms, mirrors, and electronic devices like chargers. Visual, touch, and infrared checks (using your phone) are advisable.
Did you know? Phones are pretty reliable tools for detecting hidden cameras. Simply download a hidden camera detector app. These are our favorites.
2. Use a wireless network checker
To be of any use to the host, a hidden camera would likely need to be connected to the internet to livestream, so it’s also worth using a wireless network checker to scan for devices connecting to the Wi-Fi.
Much like hidden camera checkers, wireless network checkers can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play store and used on a phone.
3. Check if it’s being wiretapped
There’s also the possibility of the property being wiretapped, which is easier to conceal. Much like hidden cameras, this won’t ‘look’ like a conventional microphone, but a very small and unsophisticated object with visible wires.
Wiretapping hotspots are much the same as hidden cameras: alarms, smoke detectors, and electronic devices.
Wiretapping is illegal, while surveillance in Airbnb must be declared by the owner. Surveillance in private areas including bedrooms, bathrooms, or ‘sleeping areas’ is forbidden, which leaves only the living room, kitchen and garden as possibly legitimate places to survey Guests.
Much like Airbnb, Uber has massively disrupted an industry ordinarily subject to strict regulations. But while surveillance in Airbnb properties is frowned upon, the same can’t be said of rideshare vehicles. Find out more about security cameras in Ubers.
Stay Safe in an Airbnb with AlfredCamera
Hidden cameras in Airbnbs aren’t the only thing that can contribute to a feeling of unease.
Sometimes, even just leaving belongings when going out for the day can make a person feel anxious, particularly if the Airbnb Host is suspicious, the accommodation itself is different to how it appeared in pictures, or the area itself is dangerous.
AlfredCamera is uniquely equipped to provide reliable, robust surveillance at a moment’s notice. There are no prohibitions on guests bringing surveillance into the space while they stay there, and it can be a useful way to keep an eye on valuables while away from the property.
Simply download it to an old phone and leave it be; motion detection will notify instantly if it spots something.
Users have long been making use of Alfred for easy security on-the-go. One user recently shared a particularly surprising story.
‘Was staying at an AIRBNB and was a little skeptical about people we were renting from. I set up camera to monitor the room while I was out,’ they said.
‘While out, the alarm sounded on my phone letting me know there was movement in the room. I watched live footage of what was taking place and it was my girlfriend. I watched her for a few minutes when all of the sudden she took a couple steps backwards and dropped to the floor.’
As soon as they got the notification, they rushed back to the rental property.
‘I was able to perform mouth to mouth and CPR on her till paramedics arrived.’
For more on surveillance laws, including the differences between one-party and multi-party consent laws, take a look at our article on cameras with audio, where we discuss the various privacy laws surrounding consent.
What To Do If You Find Cameras in Airbnb
If a hidden camera is uncovered while staying at an Airbnb property, do not tamper with the device, and refrain from touching it. Here’s what to do:
- Quickly take photographs and/or videos of the device as evidence of its existence. This could be contested if the Host removes the device before the Guest is able to report it.
- Notify Airbnb via the Urgent Support Line in the app, which should connect users to someone from the Community Support Safety Team as quickly as possible.
- Cover the device to prevent it from recording and contact the local police. Hidden cameras are a serious offense and can be deeply distressing to Guests, so never undermine the crime. If the property is particularly remote, consider covering the device with a towel to prevent more recording from taking place before the police arrive.
Something doesn’t feel right? Sometimes, a hunch is all we have to go off, but it’s always important to proceed logically when it comes to hidden cameras. Find out where to look for hidden cameras and how to do it properly.
Conclusion
Being overly cautious in Airbnb and hotel rooms alike can quickly derail all sense of logic. While that is, of course, understandable, follow the 3 simple steps discussed in the article to make sense of any suspicions.
In the meantime, let an Alfred-enabled device keep an eye on any belongings left in unfamiliar places, so that you can better enjoy your time away from home.
Recommended reading: Listening Devices: What They Look Like & How to Detect Them