Airbnb is prohibiting indoor security cameras in all of its listings, the company announced today. Airbnb has allowed hosts to have indoor security cameras in common areas such as hallways and living rooms, provided that they disclose them on their listing page and do not place them in bathrooms and other places where guests sleep.

In a blog post, the company said it is now banning indoor security cameras "regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure." Airbnb says a majority of the listings on its platform don't report having an indoor security camera, and that the update will only affect "a smaller subset of listings." The change comes after multiple reports of guests finding hidden cameras in their rentals. The update doesn't solve the mystery of hidden cameras since it focuses on law-abiding hosts.

Airbnb will also establish a new set of rules whereby hosts will have to declare the presence of outdoor security cameras and noise-decibel monitors in advance. Hosts are mandated to notify the guests regarding the existence and location of outdoor cameras prior to the booking confirmation. Outdoor cameras cannot be used to view private indoor areas. Outdoor cameras cannot be placed in private outdoor spaces, for example, an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna.

Hosts must also report the use of noise-decibel monitors, used to decide whether or not a prohibited party is occurring, in common spaces of their listings. Airbnb banned parties at all of its listings back in 2020 and forever. 

Our goal was to establish new, transparent guidelines that make our community better understand what it can and cannot expect from Airbnb," said Juniper Downs, head of community policy and partnerships at Airbnb. "We consulted our guests, our Hosts and privacy experts in making these changes and look to continue to ask for feedback in helping our policies work for our global community.".

New policy will start on 30th April. If a host violates this new policy, and a guest reports his listing as containing a camera and so on, Airbnb will undertake the probing and can delete the listing or account from its own database.