When a group of friends staying at an Airbnb on the Sunshine Coast discovered a hidden camera pointed at the shower, they decided to warn other guests by posting a video of the incident on TikTok.
Many viewers of the video, which has received over six million views, enquired about how to locate hidden cameras and what to do in such cases.
Technology guru Carmi Levy offers advice on how to avoid being watched in your vacation rental.
“(This is) incredibly disturbing,” On Thursday, Levy said on CTV’s Your Morning. “Who wants to consider renting a property through a site like Airbnb or VRBO and discovering that a camera was installed? It represents the worst possible breach of privacy.”
In a TikTok video, the Vancouver-based friends revealed their discovery of a camera pointing toward the shower that was concealed in a bathroom light socket.
Levy says, when arriving at a vacation rental, it’s wise to conduct an initial scan for anything “out of place.”
“On a bookshelf, (if) there are slight gaps where there shouldn’t be, look for things that are installed that may be installed a little bit off, a smoke detector that maybe has some damage around it because they installed it wrongly… electrical outlets, USB ports,” Levy said.
Power strips, plug-in air fresheners, and nightlights are additional items to inspect.
“If you can turn the lights off, and then use your flashlight, just flash it around the room,” he said. “There are times when the camera will reflect a small amount of light, and there may even be an LED there that will only be visible in complete darkness.”
Levy advises checking WiFi networks as well because a wireless camera will appear to be its own device.
Levy advises calling the police right away if there is a hidden camera.
“As much information as you can identify, locate its power source, and extract that power. So at least you can stay there without worrying that you’re going to be compromised for the rest of your visit,” he said. “Then, get in touch with law enforcement and let them know—this is obviously illegal.”
The platform where the guest booked their stay should be contacted next as they have policies in place to deal with the behavior. In the case of the Vancouver-based group, Airbnb removed the room’s listing, issued a refund, and launched an investigation.
“This is one of the most difficult loops to close and it’s one of the most frustrating things about this kind of crime,” Levy said. “Because there is simply no way to know if it exists, it is extremely frightening and kind of sticks with you for years afterward.”
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Source: ctvnews
