It’s natural for people to have a general fear of being watched, particularly without their permission. However, the severity of secret surveillance is taken to another level when secret cameras are involved, especially in places strictly for privacy. That being said, a woman staying with her friends in an Airbnb in Georgia was in for a massive shock when she discovered hidden cameras in the house’s bathroom and bedroom. One was aimed at the shower and toilet, while the other was pointed directly at the bed.
Posting to Reddit’s r/legaladvice, the Georgia woman was naturally terrified about the situation. “There must be more around the house, but I’m freaking out and haven’t searched the other areas yet,” she worriedly exclaims in the post. “They both have memory cards in them.” She states that she plans to inform her friends about the hidden cameras in their Airbnb, but the fact that they’ve already been there for multiple nights with 5 days left is alarming. There’s no telling if they will find even more inside the house.
She questions if she should tell the owner of the Airbnb, call the police, or turn the memory cards over to the owner. “Does someone get arrested over this? What do we do?” she panics. The top comment upvoted by over 4K users is probably the best idea: “Call the police. DO NOT give the owner the memory cards.” After all, the owner could very well destroy the evidence or become aggressive if they realize the hidden cameras have been discovered. Another commenter gives great advice that will definitely aid in police investigation: “Do document everything you can. Take pictures of the cameras, take pictures of the cards, [and] take pictures of what the cameras theoretically could see. It’s better to have too much info than too little.”
For those wondering, Airbnb strictly states in its disclosure requirements that interior hidden security cameras are not allowed in private or even shared rooms and spaces. Here’s what the official statement says,
“Hosts are not allowed to have security cameras and recording devices that monitor any part of a listing’s interior, such as the listing’s hallway, bedroom, bathroom, living room, or guest house, even if they’re turned off or disconnected. Hidden security cameras are strictly prohibited. These prohibitions also apply to the common areas and shared spaces of private room listings (ex: a living room).”
There are exceptions, such as if a camera is required by law to be set up in a space such as an entryway. Still, any sort of surveillance must be disclosed to the guests. The fact that the Georgia woman discovered the hidden cameras on her own — in the bathroom and bedroom of all places — means that the owner will surely see some grave consequences.
