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Updated Tuesday, March 12, 2024-08:29

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Airbnb

announced this Monday a new privacy policy that prohibits surveillance cameras inside the accommodations it offers, a measure that will apply

from April 30

.

The short-stay accommodation platform until now allowed its hosts to use

cameras in common areas such as hallways and living rooms

, as long as

the warning was explicit in the advertisement before booking

, but it already prohibited them in private areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

The tightening of the privacy policy "simplifies our approach and makes clear that

security cameras are not permitted

" in accommodation regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure, the company said in a statement on its website.

"These changes were made in consultation with our guests, hosts and privacy experts, and we will continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community," Juniper Down, head of Community Policy and Partnerships, said in the statement.

Airbnb said it expects the new measure to affect a "small group" of listings on its platform, because

most do not indicate that they have a security camera

.

noise monitors

In addition to the ban on indoor cameras, the policy revision will include more comprehensive rules on the use of outdoor surveillance cameras and other devices

,

including

noise decibel monitors

.

Airbnb notes that those noise monitors are still allowed, along with doorbell cameras, already allowing the host to protect their property and

know about unauthorized parties

.

However, the

location of any outdoor cameras

must be notified prior to booking.

Airbnb warned that violating these rules could lead to your account being removed from its platform.