Hidden cameras have been a hot topic in the headlines.
In May 2023, a Royal Caribbean passenger was arrested for installing a hidden camera in a public bathroom, according to CNN. A few months later, in July, Fox 5 in Washington, D.C., ran a story on a Texas couple who sued the man they rented an Airbnb from after finding hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors. In December 2023, NBC10 in Boston reported that a teenage girl found a hidden camera on an American Airlines flight she had taken in September.
These articles represent only a handful of reports about hidden cameras found in vacation homes, coffee shops, changing rooms, cruise ships and hotel rooms in recent years. But how much should you really be worried, and what should you do if you find a hidden camera?
TPG turned to Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of privacy innovation for Norton (a digital security software company), to get tips on how to spot hidden cameras, learn the steps you need to take if you find one and get the inside scoop on just how prevalent the issue is.
Rules and regulations for hidden cameras
Regardless of your location in the U.S., there are laws that protect you from being recorded or photographed without your knowledge. The Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004 prohibits anyone from knowingly "videotaping, photographing, filming, recording by any means, or broadcasting an image of a private area of an individual" without that person's consent in any circ*mstance where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Several states also have their own laws specifically regarding security cameras and whether one or both parties need to consent to the recording of audio conversations.
These regulations would, of course, apply to a hotel room or the bedrooms or bathrooms in a vacation rental. However, most travelers would also agree that there is an expectation of privacy regardless of where you are in a home or room you've rented. Until recently, however, Airbnb did allow indoor security cameras in common areas as long as they were disclosed in listings, were clearly visible and were not located in private spaces like bedrooms or bathrooms.
As of March 11, Airbnb updated its policy on indoor security cameras and prohibited them outright. In addition to the full ban on indoor security cameras, outdoor cameras and other monitoring devices — including video doorbells — cannot be oriented toward indoor or private spaces (such as an outdoor shower). They also must now be disclosed to guests before booking. The revised policy fully went into effect April 30, meaning Airbnb hosts must comply with the new regulations.
Similarly, Vrbo does not allow any surveillance devices inside its properties, and outdoor security cameras as well as smart doorbells must abide by the following set of rules:
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- They can only be used for security purposes.
- The location and coverage area of outdoor devices must be disclosed on the property description page.
- An outdoor camera that covers a pool or hot tub must be disclosed in person via a welcome binder, notice on the wall or placard next to the pool or hot tub in addition to being noted on the booking page.
- Areas where guests have a reasonable expectation of privacy should not be under surveillance.
- Access to surveillance data should be limited, and the data must be deleted when no longer needed.
In the case of hotels, a spokesperson from the American Hotel & Lodging Association told TPG, "Surveillance cameras in U.S. hotels, if any, should be limited to public or common areas and be used for security purposes only."
How can you spot a hidden camera?
Despite there being clear and stringent guidelines regarding security cameras in hotel and vacation rentals, a 2023 survey on Americans' vacation rental preferences conducted by IPX1031, a company that specializes in business exchange services, found that 58% of travelers are worried about hidden cameras in vacation rental properties. The study also noted that one in four guests who searched for a camera at a vacation rental property found one.
If you are among those concerned, there are a few simple steps you can take to uncover hidden cameras.
"The first thing you can look for is any suspicious objects that look out of place. This could be a picture frame, smoke detector or clock in an unexpected spot or a lightbulb pointing in a strange direction," Sanchez-Rola told TPG. "If you see something that doesn't look quite right, consider what the object is pointing at. A potted plant on the floor probably couldn't record anything, but a plant in the bathroom or pointing at a bed may warrant further inspection."
Confirming your suspicions could be as simple as turning out the lights if you think you've spotted something.
"Some cameras have a very small blinking red light," Sanchez-Rola said. "The light may not be obvious when all the lights are on, but if you get the room as dark as possible, it will be easier to spot."
Sanchez-Rola shared that spotting a camera's blinking light can be even easier if you use your smartphone's flashlight.
"If you turn the lights out and shine your flashlight around suspicious areas, you will see a small reflective light bouncing off any blinking light in the room," he said.
You can also use your smartphone, tablet or laptop to check for nearby Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices.
"You can scan the available Wi-Fi networks by connecting to the Wi-Fi router and using a network scanning application from your device's native app store to look for anything unexpected," Sanchez-Rola said. "If you see a name you don't recognize or that seems 'off,' that could be a red flag."
Lastly, there are hidden camera detectors you can purchase that are specifically designed for this purpose. Sanchez-Rola uses one himself and said you can find them for under $100 on shopping sites like Amazon.
"These devices analyze the electromagnetic waves hidden cameras use to transmit information to their owner," he said.
What should you do if you find a hidden camera?
The first thing you should do as soon as you find a hidden camera in your hotel room or vacation rental is to contact law enforcement. They will give you specific instructions to protect your safety and properly document the incident.
"You may think the first thing to do is to contact the hotel management or homeowner, but by doing so, you are alerting them that you have found it. Knowing they are caught may prompt them to try and cover their tracks by entering the premises or remotely disabling the camera and deleting the data," Sanchez-Rola said.
He also recommends taking photos of the camera's location and covering the camera or moving yourself and your belongings out of view while you wait for law enforcement to arrive.
If you are staying in a Vrbo rental, the company recommends that you contact it if you believe you have found something that violates its surveillance policy so it can take the steps to protect your privacy and comfort. Similarly, Airbnb advises guests to report violations to its customer support team. Both rental companies have procedures in place for assisting guests with finding other accommodations if they need to leave because of a serious issue, such as finding a hidden camera.
Bottom line
With law enforcement and vacation rental companies cracking down on hidden cameras, scary stories of travelers discovering that they are being recorded without their knowledge will likely decrease. However, if the situation arises, these tips should give you the knowledge and peace of mind you need to properly handle the situation.
Related reading:
- Everything you need to know about State Department travel advisories
- Best travel cards
- How to protect your travel documents
- Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a first-time or frequent traveler
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
