Community Chat

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@NameAlreadyTaken wrote:

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@Marp wrote:

Full article from  http://abcnews.go.com/US/

Two people said they are "distressed" after discovering a hidden camera, pointed directly at their bed, in a room they rented from the popular site Airbnb.

"My wife and I are distressed by this situation. I hope more victims will come forward,” Derek Starnes told ABC News affiliate WFTS-TV of Tampa Bay, Florida, after he says he found a camera hidden in the smoke detector of the room he rented through Airbnb in Longboat Key, Florida.

Starnes said he was only able to notice the obscured pinhole camera because he works in the Information Technology sector.

Wayne Natt, 56, who posted the room on Airbnb, was arrested for video voyeurism and is currently out on bond. His arraignment is scheduled for next month. Neither he nor his attorney immediately responded to ABC News request for comment Wednesday.

Airbnb told ABC News that Natt had an account on its website for two years and had at least 40 reviews. The company said it has permanently banned him from the site.

"We are outraged at the reports of what happened. As soon as we were made aware, we permanently banned this individual from our community and fully supported the affected guests," Benjamin Breit, a spokesperson for Airbnb told ABC News in a statement.

"Our team has reached out to local law enforcement to aid them with their investigation of this egregious offense, and we hope justice is served. We take privacy issues extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy against this behavior," Breit added.

Local authorities said they found two cameras hidden in smoke detectors at the property.

Lt. Bob Bourque of the Longboat Key Police Department told WFTS-TV that officers seized from Natt's home "a lot of computer storage data devices, hard drives, computers, laptops, S.D. cards, anything that would store data."

While Starnes says he was able to spot the pinhole camera because of his background in IT, experts recommend that people untrained in such matters look for hidden cameras by using the camera light on a smartphone to spot the reflection from a lens. There are also apps that claim they can detect hidden cameras. In addition, if you are extremely concerned about your privacy, you can also purchase an RF detector, which checks for wireless signals and may be able to detect hidden cameras.

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NAT:  What about insisting upon renting and occupying the room that the establishment provide a "real" law enforcement officer assist in your inspection of the room before the luggage is unloaded.   

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Sure, for an additional fee.

[Lipstickdiva]

I doubt anyone is going to provide a real law enforcement officer to fully check a house, room, etc. for hidden cameras.  That would cost quite a bit of money, take quite a bit of time and what kind of liability does that person have if something is missed? 

[Nancy Drew]

I am actually surprised more of this is not going on. Too many weirdos out there. 

[chrystaltree]

I'm not terribly surprised.  AirBnB has millions of private homes and apartments all over the world.  We're read about cameras in gyms and bathrooms and upskirting; that problem exists everywhere.  Although it's rare.  We haven't done AirBnB yet but we will, just not in someone's home.  AirBnB has hotel rooms on it's site, that's what we would use.   My daughter has a small inlaw apartment on her house.  It's attached but separate from the main house.  It even has it's own tiny garden area.  They are thinking about AirBnB next summer.  The extra money would help pay for their own vacation.  

[TenderMercies]

So, who gets sued here?  Is it Airbnb or the owner of the rental?  I'm not sure, but I would think Airbnb would require their realtors to have their own insurance and/or be bonded as well as making sure the tenants agree to terms and conditions which include how Airbnb is just a booking agent and not responsible?  I'd hate to think that Airbnb would be liable and that weirdos like this could jeapordize the future of the company.  For those who travel a lot, this is a wonderful company.  

[Plaid Pants2]

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@SahmIam wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

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@SahmIam wrote:

Honestly? Unless it's in my own home, I don't do ANYTHING ANYWHERE that I would not want my children, family and friends to see me doing. Cameras in hotels, ANY rental unit, a friends house, etc is somthing I presume will be in place because...sercurity in addtion to the fact of people being ******s in todays world.

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I don’t understand what you’ve written. Yes, in today’s Tech world you have to be careful, but in certain places, including a bedroom and a bath room in a rental everyone should have and expect privacy.

So, you don’t take a bath/shower or use the toilet or undress anywhere unless you are in your home, or maybe you wouldn’t mind your children, friends or family to see you using the facilities?

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@Carmie  No, I simply presume that someone might be filming you so, be prepared to be violated. Yes, we SHOULD not have to worry and yet, this has been going on for a long time. The laws have NOT kept up with technology so many behaviors that we look upon as disgusting and wrong legally....are not against the law.

And no, I don't use public dressing rooms where I strip down to underwear to try things on or public toilets. I know of too many cases where women (and children) have been filmed in both situations. I NEVER assume that a persons' home is camera free; you're a fool to think it is so again, don't do something you wouldn't want family and friends to see. I don't think that's bizarre, weird or odd in the world we live in today.

You can't be surprised if you're prepared.

Okay, got it.

When you travel, you never  use the toilet, bathe, or change clothes.

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[Plaid Pants2]

And this is exactly why I will never use AirB&B.

In fact, just last week, I said on another thread, that this exact sort of thing could happen, and I was RIGHT!

Plus, those places do not have to have the same safety standards as a hotel, and the owner can come back at any time and assault/rape you.

Give me a hotel any time.

[Mominohio]

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@jaxs mom wrote:

I'm not really surprised. 

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Me either.

I really would not choose this method of finding lodging. Too much chance for something to be amiss.

[Mominohio]

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@missy1 wrote:

Airbnb or B & B  Inns are not for me. Yes, camera's can be in hotel/motel rooms but the odds are far less (with so many rooms). I don't even care for staying anywhere overnight, besides my own house.

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I'm not a fan of staying away from home either, unless it is with family or good friends that I know well. 

Hotels gross me out. What they find in those expose type shows is disgusting.

[suzyQ3]

Each to his own, but I can't wrap my head around holing up in my house forever out of fear of...anything or everything.

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime" -- Mark Twain