Is Someone Spying On You?

Spying is an increasing problem in our society, fueled by the availability of small, easily hidden recording devices.

This news article addresses the increasing problem of people spying on each other. The article talks about an AirBnB vacation home but it's increasingly common for Sellers to spy on Buyers to try and catch a competitive edge.

Camera technology is everywhere. We all have cameras on our phones, laptops, gaming systems (e.g. Xbox Kinect), or security systems. These are great tools with many useful, moral purposes. Landlords and homeowners may use these tools for legitimate security purposes like monitoring a vacant rental. Unfortunately, they can also use the tools for nefarious purposes.

In real estate sales, we're seeing more and more Sellers attempting to spy on potential Buyers to gain a competitive edge. Imagine someone looking at a large single-family residence with the intent of converting it to a multi-family. During the walk-through, the buyers talk about how much it would cost, potential rent income, and that it would increase the value of the home almost immediately. Meanwhile, the seller is spying on them, hearing their conversation, and deciding that they want a piece of the action. They could demand a higher price or possibly even remove the property from the market!

Don't be that person. Respect people's privacy. AirBnB has an electronic surveillance policy that specifically address recording devices. It prohibits the use of recording devices in certain areas (bathrooms, bedrooms) and requires full disclosure of any recording devices. 

You may be thinking, "I don't have any cameras in my house, so this doesn't apply." Do you have a baby monitor? Alexa or Google Home? How about an Amazon Fire Stick with a voice-activated remote? All of these devices are capable of being hacked and used to monitor your activity. Don't forget the devices specifically designed to look like ordinary household objects but actually designed to spy. These include wall chargers, Teddy bears, alarm clocks, smoke detectors, and even shower heads!

Whether you are staying in a vacation rental or looking at homes to purchase, I recommend you be aware of your surroundings. Just because you can't see a recording device doesn't mean they aren't there and you may not be able to find them even if you looked. As a Buyer you should guard what you say inside the home - just in case - and talk over the details once you've left the home.