September 17, 2024, 8:19 am | Read time: 5 minutes
If you feel that you are being watched in a vacation apartment or accommodation booked via Airbnb, there might be something to it. Find out more about this at TECHBOOK and, above all, how to find surveillance cameras.
If surveillance cameras are installed in vacation homes or private apartments that are rented out temporarily, they are typically intended to protect against theft or vandalism. Therefore, it’s common to find such devices installed near the front door or in the entrance hallway, and they are generally allowed if specific guidelines are followed (more on this later).
However, holidaymakers often report finding surveillance cameras that they were not informed about in advance. The fear of being secretly filmed and having the footage posted online is not unfounded. TECHBOOK explains how to anticipate this eventuality and find surveillance cameras in vacation accommodation.
Overview
How to find surveillance cameras in your accommodation
In the first step, the naked eye can already help. Popular hiding places for surveillance cameras include clocks or smoke detectors, mirrors, TVs, and computer screens that are set up or attached to the wall. It is also worth looking at decorative items such as pictures, lamps, and ceiling fans. Also, take a look at the various sockets in the vacation apartment. The cliché – a spy tool in the spine of a book – is also popular.
Of course, the most obvious hiding spots are also the most noticeable. In order to find surveillance cameras in apartments, even when they are hidden more subtly, we are now getting a little more technical.
Detect camera reflection with a flashlight
Modern smartphones are equipped with a flashlight function. But you can, of course, also use an ordinary flashlight to search for surveillance cameras in the dark. Logically, their lenses are exposed; otherwise, they would not be able to detect anything. If light hits them, they should reflect it. Proceed slowly and carefully so as not to miss anything; sometimes, the surveillance cameras and their lenses are extremely small. It can also be useful to trigger a flash (e.g., via a smartphone or photo camera) to provoke light reflections.
Using the Infrared Function to Locate Surveillance Cameras
Speaking of darkness, newer surveillance cameras are often equipped with infrared sensors to detect movement even in the dark. It can then be helpful to switch off the light, as the corresponding tools activate their night vision function in the dark. This allows you to keep an eye out for the small white-purple dots of light typical of infrared.
Again, you will need your smartphone for this. Walk around the vacation home with it and hold it close to suspicious areas while activating the camera. If it really is a source of infrared radiation, it will be visible as a bright white light on the cell phone display.
Locate tools via their WiFi connection
Surveillance cameras are often connected to the home’s WiFi. This offers several advantages to their users, such as the ability to access the footage remotely and in real time. But the internet connection also plays into your hands. You have probably connected to the WiFi yourself and can use special network scanner apps to identify all other devices connected to the network. If you find names here that indicate cameras, you are already wiser.
Bring out the big guns
If you often book into vacation accommodation, it could be worth investing in professional detection devices. These detectors can identify surveillance cameras and bugs, but they come with a cost (starting at approximately 130 euros). There are cheaper options, as some of the network scanner apps mentioned above also have this function as an additional feature. However, they do not achieve quite as accurate results.
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for but can’t shake off the feeling that you’re being watched or recorded, a professional security company can help as a last resort. These companies specialize in detecting surveillance cameras and similar tools. While their services are not free, they can provide you with complete peace of mind if you have any doubts. If your suspicions prove correct and there are indeed surveillance cameras inside the premises, you should document the discovery and contact the booking platform and the police.
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When it is permitted to use surveillance cameras
Airbnb has banned the use of surveillance cameras in accommodation offered on the platform. As of April 30, 2024, they are only allowed in the outdoor areas of vacation accommodations to ‘ensure that no unauthorized persons enter the apartments,’ as stated by the company. Before the deadline, they were also allowed indoors, provided they were visible and listed in the apartment description. Nevertheless, holidaymakers repeatedly complained about discovering hidden cameras.
According to a publication by the German “Consumer Advice Center,” it is permitted to install surveillance cameras if users want to protect their rooms from thieves and burglars – but even then, only on their own property. “As a rule, (…) you are not allowed to film neighbors or passers-by on public roads,” it continues. However, there may be exceptions to this rule. For example, if someone has been the victim of repeated burglaries. In any case, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) must be observed. Among other things, it is essential to draw attention to the monitoring. Otherwise, any material that has recorded criminal acts may not be usable as evidence. More detailed information on their requirements is summarized in the guidance of the Data Protection Conference.