USA: Woman Sues Airbnb After She Says Hidden Camera Filmed Her Undressing

A woman is suing Airbnb and a couple who rented her a property through the site after she says a hidden camera was used to “spy on her while she was completely undressed.”

Yvonne Schumacher filed the lawsuit on December 14 in U.S. District Court in Northern California, alleging her privacy was violated when she was recorded with a remote control camera while staying at Fariah Hassim and Jamil Jiva’s apartment in Irvine, California.

The German woman and her companion, identified as Kevin Stockton, discussed “highly personal matters” while in the unit, where they began their stay on December 16, 2013 and were slated to stay until January 12, 2014.

Schumacher often slept naked and walked without wearing clothing through the living room, where the camera was allegedly set up, “believing that with the front door closed and the window blinds drawn throughout the property, she was protected from prying eyes."

“This natural presumption proved to be incorrect,” the complaint filed by Schumacher said.

On the third day of their stay in the apartment, Stockton found the camera hidden between candles after he noticed a light coming from a shelf, the court papers said.

The complaint alleges the camera was on, capable of recording video and audio at all times and was “actually moving, demonstrating that it was being remotely controlled by the camera’s operator.”

The couple complained to Airbnb and left the apartment, but the company continued to list the apartment on its site, Schumacher said.

But a source with firsthand knowledge of the incident said that no one else stayed in the property after Schumacher complained and that the listing for the apartment was taken down immediately.

Schumacher is seeking an unspecified amount of money, plus attorney fees and any other relief a jury might deem fit.

“Moreover, she has been and continues to be concerned that images of her exist in electronic form and could make their way onto the Internet or some other medium,” the court document said.

Airbnb addresses privacy on its site, writing: “We expect hosts to respect their guests’ privacy. Although we can’t provide you with specific legal advice, the use of surveillance equipment may violate the law in your jurisdiction.

“Notify your guests about any security cameras or other surveillance devices at or around your listing and get consent where required."

The suit said: “At no time did Airbnb or the Lessors inform Mrs. Schumacher that a video camera was located in the living room of the property or that it was being controlled by a remote location."

A spokesman for Airbnb said "Though we do not comment on pending litigation we will defend it vigorously.

"Over 65 million guests have had positive, trustworthy experiences staying on Airbnb and we believe this type of incident is incredibly rare. Airbnb takes privacy issues extremely seriously.

"All hosts must certify that they comply with all applicable laws in their locations and are of course expected to respect the privacy of their guests. Airbnb asks hosts to fully disclose whether there are security cameras or other surveillance equipment at or around the listing and to get consent where required."