Invisible eyes: from security concerns to privacy issues

What people discuss about security cameras in the Airbnb Community?

Guest found cameras in the living room and she wasn't informed about that. She's asking for hosts opinions about what is the appropriate way to notify the guests about the presence of cameras in the property Airbnb didn't check the ad list before suspending the account when a guest report it Host member listed a camera in the ad, but he had his account suspended after a guest reported a security camera in his property If the host followed the rules he should be ok Even when the host follow the airbnb rules the account can be suspended when guests report cameras Member wants to know where to list the cameras in the airbnb listing Cameras helped me when the guest brought uninvited guests Member against inside cameras on vacation house. I would not rent a home with an interior camera Member also lives in the property that he rent. He uses cameras to check who is entering his house I always notify my guests about the cameras Recommendation of Ring doorbell It’s not only against airbnb’s rules to use an undisclosed monitoring devices but it contravenes a number of local government regulations where security devices are concerned Member uses security camera to count the number of guests Member asking what are the best outdoor cameras Member asking suggestions for home security companies in California Member wants to know the scoop with hidden cameras There’re articles and news about guests findings hidden cameras in bedrooms, even directly over the bed The whole thing about airbnb was about trust. This camera stuff, on any level, is just nasty Member will start to look for hidden cameras Member wants to know if other members believe cameras are a good back up for quest? "The purpose of the camera it’s for everyone protection" Member has a Ring doorbell installed. He uses it to check in and to help the guest if they are having issues getting into the apartment I'm considering motion detectors for each room. In my opinion this has no privacy issues If there is a guest deterred by my cameras then i am quite glad to have them not come! Member wants outdoor security camera recommendation Member bought 4 Arlo cameras for his place entrances Member uses Nest Member uses Arlo Member uses Blink, indoor and outdoor Member uses Nets outdoor Member uses Nets and Ring Member uses Arlo q Member needs outdoor security camera recommendation Airbnb requires all hosts to disclose all surveillance devices in their listings Report the situation to airbnb Report these people it’s a violation of privacy It’s allowed to have cameras in commom areas but the host has to disclose it Contact airbnb Member detected extra guests using cameras Airbnb customer service reps incompetent about their privacy policy Member mentioned the privacy policy about disclose all surveillance devices How to disclose security camera To list all cameras. Including cell phones, laptops, etc Member wants to know if the cameras were disclosed Member included the presence of cameras in his listing Follow the official airbnb stance on security and surveillance equipment Member caught guest on camera entering in not allowed room Bathrooms and bedrooms are of course off-limits, and private areas in general are problematic with airbnb Member asked if someone’s guest complained about cameras In my property the guest can unplug the cameras when they arrive. You have to communicate it’s presence as in some places it's a felony to record someone without their knowledge Member thinks that it is not airbnb's business if someone have camera in their private space for their own security Guest found security cameras inside I can't think of a single guest that would feel comfortable Member installed door handles with key locks to all rooms that guests are not allowed Member mentioned the camera in the rental agreement and the guest can unplug it at any time they want during their stay Member use cameras to check in/out and monitor the cleaning service Member has Ring doorbell that he uses it to check in/out and for any issue that guests need help Member has exterior security cameras that’re displayed in numerous places in the listing and in his messages to guests Guests that would be deterred by outside cameras are the sort of guests you wouldn't want to hosts Make sure guests are aware there are exterior security cameras Member has cameras listed on airbnb page and in the house rules which one has to agree to before booking The member has a couch and she wants to know if having a camera in the living room is going to violate the rules Member has a motion-activated camera in a room clearly marked "private - no guest access” Member wants to know whether to use security camera Security cameras , a good thing or a guest deterrent ? The camera needs to be mentioned in your listing As it can be used as bedroom it’s clear: no cameras Personally, i would not be comfortable staying anywhere with a surveillance camera inside the property Member against cameras cause his wife doesn't want that people look her Member wouldn't book a place that had any internal cameras even just in the common spaces Member was considering a video doorbell Good experience with doorbell. Member uses it to open the door to the guest, to know when guests are home or not home for safety and he can talk to them through the doorbell I am a superhost and have cctv in the common areas of my house and most of my guests say they love How to disclose in the terms the cameras you have at home I would never book a place where surveillance cameras are operable Member thinks every host who hosts remotely should have cctv or cameras at every entrance to their property Host used cameras to detect which guest that was stealing Member uses camera because one of his guest had all her belongings stolen Member asking suggestions for home security camera Member disclosed the existence of camera on the listing, in the pre approval message and guidebook Member use Nets cameras thanks to it, he could prove that the guests brought extra guests A host member had a guest that brought extra guests after the host found out it the guest complain about the cameras to airbnb Member asked recommendation of security camera that records visual and audio in disk Member has 2 nanny cams in plain view listed Member installs Arlo cameras and fully disclose it. He uses to check in/out and manage the cleaning Member has a blink indoor and outdoor Member recommends arlo q or arlo q plus Member asking recommendations to install a camera inside to see who is coming in Member has Kuna lights at each door Guest found a camera in the living room and bedroom area. He covered the cam with tape Member uses securityspy software with 4 Foscam c2 Member uses Nest outdoor camera Member has caught people bringing extra guests Member caught 3 sets of extra guests breaking the rules Member has a doorbell cameras disclosed in his listing Member use wyze cam to monitor the number of guests, if the garage is closed and to do the check out Member uses cameras to check in/out and monitoring the cleaning service and for security when nobody is there I use Ring to self check in I use Ring sytem Member installed Arlo cameras and he saw the guest brought not 1 extra guest but 3. It was useful for him to cancel the reservation Member wants to know if it’s ok to use cameras to check if the guests are following the rules like number of pets or additional guests No problems if you communicate the guests about the cameras Check the local laws and also use a label with “camera” on the plugs In private property you don’t need to inform anyone Member has external cameras and don’t see any problem if they’re listed Cameras can be useful to prove when guests are breaking the rules or stolen something I listed my cameras but a guest reported me and my account was locked Cameras can avoid trouble guests Hosts should list all cameras in their properties It’s allowed to have cameras in common areas as living room and kitchen since they’re listed in the ad Member has cameras inside, in commom areas and asked if there’s any privacy issue Should be listed in the ad Member found videos captured by cameras in airbnb properties without the guests knowing about the cameras It’s a violation of privacy It’s a violation of privacy someone checking if you washed the dishes Cameras inside is not legal Member said that if the cameras are inside the host need to disclose them Guest unplugged a camera that he found in the ceiling of the kitchen he asked if it’s legal If the cameras are listed contact airbnb Member asked if the cameras were disclosed in the host listing Check the airbnb privacy policies Host asking for advices to install security cameras and how to disclose them to not violate privacy rules Host had the account suspended due to security cameras Member rented a place only for her cousin and the host used the security cameras to accuse her of staying in the house Even if you spot cameras in airbnb rental photographs the host needs to inform you Guest complains about cameras not listed properly. The guest misunderstood what commom area means Member uses listed cameras they’re in commom spaces but not in the sleeping areas Member found a camera in the kitchen sink that the host used to charge extra fees for not doing the dishes Hosts who have internal video surveillance should be forced to disclose it in their listing Member has security cameras inside and outside the only place that guests can expect total privacy is in their rooms not in common areas Member considering placing outdoor cameras for his own safety Member rented a place with cameras not listed. Through camera the host accused them of not cleaning the kitchen properly Member appaled that someone install cameras inside of a home Member has a property in a remote place he needs cameras to protect his property and the guests Cameras are a huge deterrent to criminals It’s not enough to mention “i have a security system with cameras” it’s necessary to say where. Guests who are genuine and doing the right thing should not mind uninvasive security after all it is for their benefit too Totally against cameras in areas that guests use to relax Against cameras in areas that guests use to relax but at an entrance or the door is suitable All public areas has security cameras and people don’t feel violated Inside cameras can be illegal in many places. It’s necessary to check local laws to install a camera inside a living space Host has a ring camera in the entry but not to spy the guests dancing in the living room cause guests should never think they are being spied on Places with hidden cameras should not be rented if the host didn’t mention it, it means that the host doesn’t care about invading people privacy Member wants other member’s feedbacks about check in/out using cameras Member wants tips to install outdoor cameras to check if the guests are following the rules Install cameras and not mention it in the list is a invasion of privacy It’s ok to have external camera to check if something is missing in the rooms. Security cameras are useful to self and guests protection The member's daughter found a camera hidden in a guitar case facing the bed Read the airbnb privacy policy Hosts should talk with the guests about it Cameras inside should be listed but not when it’s outside Airbnb takes a snapshot of host’s listings when each reservation is made so it can be accessed Read the entire description of the listing before booking 1st comment in thread The text is a summary of the posts *airbnb security camera disclaimer: “if you’re a host and you have any type of security camera or other recording device in or around a listing, even if it’s not turned on or hooked up, we require that you indicate its presence in your house rules.Airbnb policy prohibits the use of a security camera or any other recording device by a guest to monitor a host or any third party present in the listing without the consent of that person. Airbnb encourage hosts to discuss the use of security cameras and other recording devices by using airbnb’s messaging feature. Violating this policy may result in your suspension or removal from the airbnb community. In addition, you should ensure that your use of security cameras and other recording devices is consistent with applicable local laws and regula-tions.” Against Security Cameras Hosts/guests that don’t feel confortable withthe use of security camera 5.59% 6.83% Bad Experiences Guests reports of camerasbreaching their privacy/hosts account suspendedafter guest report camera 5.59% Pros Security Cameras Hosts/guests who favor the use of Security cameras 12,42% GoodExperiences Hosts /guests reportwhich security cameraswere useful to ensure thesecurity of the property 14.91% Unaware ofPrivacy Policies Hosts/guests commentsor questions expressingunawareness aboutairbnb privacy policies* 22.98% TechnicalRecommendation Hosts/guests recommendingor asking recommendations for security device brands or tips to install cameras Aware Of Airbnb Privacy Policy Comments of hosts/guests who are aware about the Airbnb rules forsecurity cameras* 31.68% View text

Media brought out some cases of Airbnb guests who found security cameras inside the rented houses. Through the research in the Airbnb Community (online forum), we found interesting questions and discussions about the security cameras and how the members react to them. Is camera in the kitchen to ensure you clean the house? Such findings are displayed into the visualization.

Main Findings

Each discussion turns into different topics and points of view from the initial question. There is a high number of people against security cameras even though there are more positive than negative experiences.

example of secondary visualization

A total of 23% of the discussion is based on recommendations for security device brands. Arlo and Ring are the companies more suggested by the users, brands with high security vulnerabilities in their systems.

example of secondary visualization

‘Aware of airbnb privacy policies’ is the most repeated category in the discussion. The community users mention more rules related to the security policies of the company to help others to follow the rules.

During the discussion, the good experiences are mostly related with the use of security cameras to detect extra guests in the home and to monitor check-in/out and the cleaning.

The second most discussed category is about technical problems. A lot of people ask about tips to solve problems, camera recommendations for outdoor, indoor or how to connect them.

Protocol

example of protocol

Data sources

Date of retrieval

Airbnb Community

11/11/2019

Dataset