Do you have hidden cameras in your country house? here’s what you need to know

If you didn’t know your vacation home had cameras, this could be a major intrusion into your privacy.
In Michigan, it is not a crime for owners of rental properties to install video cameras (i.e. without sound) and record their guests without their knowledge. Unless the recording is for “obscene” or “obscene” purposes. Registering people in Michigan for “obscene purposes” is a crime.
Florida is similar in that there does not appear to be a criminal law that explicitly prohibits non-audio surveillance in residential buildings, unless the recordings are used for “entertainment, profit, or other such improper” purposes.
Regardless of the law, vacation rental companies have their own policies regarding audio and video recording of rental property.
Vrbo has a policy that no surveillance equipment of any kind, including video or recording equipment, should be used in the facility. Security devices and smart doorbells outside your property may record audio and video if they comply with certain rules. They should be for security purposes and tenants should be aware of them.
Airbnb policy allows the use of security cameras and noise control devices as long as they are listed in the listing description and “do not violate the privacy of others.” Airbnb allows the use of cameras in public areas and common areas if the tenant knows about it. Surveillance devices should be installed where people can see them, they should not monitor bedrooms, bathrooms or other areas that can be used as sleeping areas.
Local 4 crime and security expert Darnell Blackburn gives some tips on where to look for hidden cameras and how to spot them.
If something seems strange, out of place, or impresses you, you should pay attention to it. Counterfeit USB chargers with hidden cameras are very common, according to Blackburn.
“When you’re dealing with this, think about where things are. Something that doesn’t fit into certain areas, or maybe there’s something on a certain level where they’re just trying to get a certain point of view,” Blackburn said. .
Local 4 also tested a device used to test hidden cameras. At first it seemed to work, but sometimes the detector did not notice the hidden camera or turned off when it was not there. After all, we don’t think it’s very reliable.
Blackburn offers this advice: take masking tape. Use tape to cover any suspicious spots or holes in walls or furniture. Because it’s masking tape, it won’t damage paint or finish if you remove it before leaving.
You can also use your phone’s light or flashlight to check for objects that look like they might be hiding the camera. You see the camera lens when light bounces off your phone.Or try to use a smartphone thermal image camera, you could just plug it on your smartphone, and then it will help to find the hidden camera easily.
If you are in doubt about an object, remove it from view. If there are picture frames, wall clocks or anything movable, please remove them for the rest of your stay.
Karen Drew hosts Local 4 News First at 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm weekdays and is an award-winning investigative reporter.
Kayla is a web producer for ClickOnDetroit. Prior to joining the team in 2018, she worked as a digital producer at WILX in Lansing.
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