If you have reservations about someone watching you when visiting an Airbnb or hotel, you’re not alone – especially since there’s been a rise in this type of privacy invasion in recent years. Here’s a recap on the increasingly common issue and some of the best ways you can stay safe by spotting a spy or hidden camera.
Thanks to apps like Airbnb, finding somewhere to stay has never been easier. Equally, thanks to the evolution in technology and the tendency for newer products to get smaller, being recorded without your knowledge has also never been easier. While this can happen anywhere you stay including official hotels, the problem appears to be more prevalent with Airbnb locations due to the company not owning any of the properties. In 2019 alone, there were plenty of instances reported of people finding hidden cameras at a guest location.
Technically speaking, anywhere you stay should not have any cameras. This is especially true in the U.S. Not only is it illegal for people to film each other using hidden cameras when there’s an expectation of privacy, services like Airbnb do require hosts to declare in the “House Rules” if there’s a camera on location. This includes security cameras and other recording devices, and is irrespective of whether they are turned on or even hooked up. However, not everyone always follows the rules so here’s some ideas on how you can protect yourself during your next stay away.
How To Find A Hidden (Spy) Camera
For those seriously concerned about maintaining privacy when away from home, a more serious solution is likely going to be needed. This means opting for an actual hardware solution like the Eilimy G319. This is a portable wireless signal detector. The logic is that spy cameras tend to use radio frequencies to communicate with remote devices ,and the Eilimy G319 picks up those radio frequencies. Therefore, it might not tell you that “this is a spy camera,” but it is supposed to advise you of things nearby that are emitting these frequencies.
An alternative and more accessible solution is to download a smartphone app like Hidden Camera Detector. Generally speaking, apps like this tend to make use of the phone’s flashlight and camera to try and identify any hidden cameras that might be around. As a word of caution, these apps have attracted much debate over whether they actually work or if they are just a gimmick. Not to mention, downloading any app nowadays comes with its own privacy concerns, especially when the app requires permission to access the camera.
The last option is to simply be more vigilant. While it might be difficult to spot a pin-sized camera with the naked eye, there are things to keep in mind that will increase the likelihood of finding one. For example, a hidden camera will hardly ever be positioned in a random place and will most likely be located in a prime recording position. This likely means in places that directly face the bed, or in the bathroom. If you find any items in the room facing a direction like this (and especially if the item seems out of place to begin with), then that item will most certainly require a closer look. Of course, none of this will protect you or your privacy from those times when your own cameras are turned into hidden cameras.
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