A Airbnb the guest’s claim that she found hidden cameras scattered around a rental property was disputed by the company.
Although police have closed their investigation after saying they found no hidden cameras at the Airbnb in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the woman’s viral story has sparked online privacy concerns.
“Be careful booking Airbnbs,” Twitter user @foxytaughtyou said on June 12 in a post with over 300,000 likes.
“My friend [and] I recently stayed at [an Airbnb] in Philadelphia with over 10 hidden cameras throughout the house,” she continued. “Including showers and bedrooms. Some were disguised as sprinkler systems, but [had] a camera lens.”
The guest joined two Pictures sprinklers, which she said displayed camera lenses when exposed to a “flash test”.
BE CAREFUL WHEN RESERVING AIR BNB! My friend and I recently stayed in an air bnb in Philadelphia with over 10 hidden cameras throughout the house. Including showers and bedrooms. Some were disguised as sprinkler systems but there is a camera lens. pic.twitter.com/nimx4L6koC
— 🍒 (@foxytaughtyou) June 12, 2022
Marcus Hutchins, Cybersecurity Educator recommended search for electronics in areas that might be ideally placed to spy on an Airbnb and shed light on any suspicious devices. When a flashlight hits a camera lens, it emits a bluish glow.
“We noticed that these ‘sprinkler’ CAMERAS were placed in places to get the perfect view of people,” the guest added along with a video of a device placed on the wall opposite a bed.
“Luckily it was a girl’s trip so I didn’t have sex…but I was naked and had to change in that room,” she said.
As soon as they found the alleged cameras, the guests alerted Airbnb, which moved them to another property. They also filed a complaint with the local police.
Chesnot / Contributor/Getty Images Europe
Airbnb said Newsweek in a statement that after investigating the allegation with police, they found no hidden cameras.
“We have carefully reviewed this allegation as we do all safety reports,” a spokesperson said.
“We spoke directly with the senior detective of the Philadelphia Police Department that responded to the complaint and investigated the property. He confirmed that he found no hidden or undisclosed cameras and that the fire sprinklers had regular sprinklers. The detective has also confirmed that they plan to close this case.”
The guest still receives a full refund, the company said.
Although the woman’s complaint was dismissed, it reignited fears online about the undisclosed rental surveillance. Airbnb has been in hot water for hidden cameras before.
Another guest went viral in February for allegedly discovering a hidden camera in her host’s bathroomapparently disguised as a charger port.
In 2019, a couple sued an Airbnb owner in San Diego after allegedly finding two cameras hidden in small holes in the bathroom and a third in the bedroom ceiling, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
And in 2017, a viral tweet revealed an Airbnb host’s “motion sensor,” which was actually a web-connected camera for remote viewing.
Newsweek contacted @foxytaughtyou for comment.
Updated 6/15/2022, 3:34 PM ET: This story has been updated with comments from an Airbnb spokesperson and additional information.
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