- Short-term rental platform Airbnb on Monday announced it is banning the use of indoor security cameras in its listings globally, regardless of their location, purpose, or prior disclosure. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Currently, Airbnb permits security cameras in common areas if their presence is disclosed in the property’s listing. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- The new rules — which will permit the use of doorbell cameras and noise monitors, if disclosed in the listing — will take effect at the end of April. Business Insider (LR: 3 CP: 4)
- In a statement, Airbnb said the new policy “simplifies” its approach to restricting the use of security cameras. Sky News
- The company, which began in 2017, also said the new policy isn’t expected to affect most of its listings, which includes more than 5M hosts who use the site. CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)
Narrative A:
- Airbnb is dedicated to listening to its users and providing them with a feeling of security when they rent a property, and also making the rules around privacy and security crystal clear. This will impact a small amount of the listings on the Airbnb site, and, moving forward, the company will continue to adapt in response to user feedback.
TECHCRUNCH (LR: 3 CP: 3)
Narrative B:
- It’s about time Airbnb changed its troubling policy regarding indoor cameras. Now its policy is more in line with its direct competitors and other companies in the hospitality business. However, Airbnb has a disappointing track record when it comes to enforcing some of its policies, so this change can’t be judged until we see how the platform handles complaints about or violations of the new policy.
ARS TECHNICA
Everybody knows that once something is made illegal people will cease to participate in said illegal activities.
Jokes aside, we have two Airbnbs just on my street. Fuck all that noise, I wish the government would step in and stop allowing people to rent out their houses like a fucking hotel. The traffic on our once quiet neighborhood has tripled, both houses employ cameras facing the street. The renters think they can park anywhere on our narrow street. Both houses are almost always occupied. Now that I think about it, the only time I’ve seen the house empty is when the cleaning crew comes in to get it ready for the next guest. Last week we had a weirdo taking pictures of my wife, today there’s a family with approximately 100 children, at least that’s what it sounds like from my house. Several weeks before there was trash all over the street thanks to one of the renters. Can you tell I hate Airbnb and that entire fucking business model?