We Found a Hidden Camera in the Bathroom of Our Airbnb

Summary

Dear Tripped Up,This past Memorial Day weekend, my boyfriend, two friends and I were just over one day into our three-day, $1,023 Airbnb stay at a house in Alton, N.H., near Lake Winnipesaukee, when my boyfriend noticed a flashing light coming from what turned out to be a camera disguised as an outlet extender in the bathroom. By that point, we had already taken showers, gotten undressed and used the toilet. We called the police, who took the camera as evidence and encouraged us to leave the property immediately. We also contacted Airbnb and were put in touch with Liviana, a member of the company’s safety team. We provided her with a photograph of the camera installed over the toilet, a screenshot of an online listing for a matching camera from Knowyournanny (a site that sells security cameras) and the police case number. We asked for a full refund and for the listing to be taken down, as it appeared to be booked for much of the summer, and we were especially concerned that previous reviews of the property mentioned children staying there. After several days of back and forth, Liviana wrote us back to close the case. “Based on the information provided,” she wrote, “we were not able to conclude that there was a violation of our policy.” Though we were refunded for one night of our stay, we want a full refund — and we want the house off the Airbnb platform to protect future renters, especially children. Savannah, MassachusettsDear Savannah,Airbnb’s policy is clear as day: Security cameras inside homes are always prohibited, even if turned off or disclosed to guests.The evidence you sent them and me is just as clear: a photograph of a device hanging above the toilet that is an exact match of a spy camera sold across the internet. “Monitor your property in real-time from your mobile device,” reads a description of the product on Amazon, offering purchasers “vibrant, high-resolution images that capture every detail.”It’s hard to imagine why Airbnb wouldn’t give you a ful...