Technology continues to get smaller and more affordable, including surveillance cameras.
"You can hide them, they are easily concealable and business is booming," said Kansas City-based security expert Anthony Burnside.
That's great for protecting your home unless that home is listed on rental sharing sites like Airbnb.
"Shockingly the law hasn't caught up with video [recording]," said Business attorney Bernie Rhodes with Kansas City law firm Lathrop & Gage. "We don't have any federal laws and for the most part we don't have state laws on the recording of video, so we fall back on what we call the expectation of privacy."
Rhodes says the "expectation of privacy" common law covers renters from places like bathrooms and bedrooms in home sharing units and hotels. If a recording device is found inside, the renter can sue for invasion of privacy and in some cases file criminal charges.
In Las Vegas, an Airbnb rental owner was charged after multiple cameras were discovered hidden inside devices like smoke detectors and stereo speakers.
Airbnb guidelines state hosts must tell renters that cameras are on premises regardless if they are working or not.
Kansas City Airbnb host Lance Pierce says like any business, there will be a minute few individuals that abuse the system, but the sharing service is an overwhelmingly positive experience with built in "trust" checks and balances.
"At the end of every reservation the guest gives the host a review and the host gives the guest a review so there's a system of equal power between both of those people," said Pierce. "I have 8 properties here in Kansas City and I've done 700 plus reservations and have never really had an issue."
Burnside, a security expert who physically and electronically protects VIP clients, says regardless of the chances for it to happen, if it's possible, you should be prepared.
"Look for things. Start off with the bedroom or the bathroom. Look for things that are suspicious. If it can fit on a wall or it can fit on a dresser table, you can put a camera in it," said Burnside.
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
