Madison, known as Maady on TikTok, recounted a traumatic experience during her Airbnb stay in Annecy, where she discovered a hidden camera disguised as an alarm clock in the bathroom. Shocked and feeling violated, she reported the incident to the police, who confirmed she had been recorded. Airbnb promptly banned the host and committed to preventing such incidents in the future by prohibiting cameras in accommodations. Maady’s warning highlights the potential risks travelers face with concealed recording devices.
Maady’s Shocking Discovery During Her Airbnb Stay
On May 22, 2023, Madison, known as Maady on TikTok, shared a harrowing experience that unfolded during the Ascension weekend. She was enjoying a getaway in Annecy with a friend, only to make a shocking discovery upon arriving at their Airbnb rental. To her horror, Maady found a hidden camera in the bathroom. “I was filmed without my knowledge while showering by the owner of the accommodation,” she revealed in a viral video that has garnered significant attention on social media. In her account, she described how the incident unfolded. “The host had received 200 comments, all glowing, so I felt reassured. But on the second day, while showering, I noticed a camera disguised as an alarm clock,” she explained. “The owner recorded me and everyone who stayed before me through this covert device,” she added, a revelation that sparked thousands of reactions online.
Taking Action After the Disturbing Discovery
Invited to share her story on the show Ça commence aujourd’hui on France 2, Maady recounted her immediate shock and vulnerability. “I was very, very shocked,” she expressed, emphasizing how exposed she felt after just stepping out of the shower. Unsure of how to respond, she quickly reached out to her friend who was accompanying her on the trip. “We were trying to process everything, but it was incredibly difficult,” she recalled, adding that their minds went into survival mode.
Upon discovering the hidden camera, Maady promptly contacted Airbnb support, which advised her to leave the premises and offered compensation for a hotel stay. However, she chose to call the police, taking the memory card and camera with her to file a report. “It took four hours at the police station. They reviewed the videos to confirm our suspicions, and indeed, we were recorded,” she shared. The investigation revealed that the spy camera had been active since March 2023, storing footage on a 32GB memory card. Maady also sent a cautionary message to future travelers, warning them that such incidents are possible: “It doesn’t only happen to others! There are new devices that can be hidden in smoke detectors, USB plugs, and more. In my case, it was disguised as an alarm clock with a camera lens behind tinted glass,” she said.
In light of this incident, the offending host has been permanently banned from Airbnb. The platform released a statement expressing dismay over the situation and confirmed they are in contact with Maady to offer support. “As soon as we were informed, we initiated an investigation, removed the host’s account, and deleted the listing from our platform. We enforce strict measures when such rare incidents occur and work closely with law enforcement,” they stated. It is important to note that filming someone in a private setting without consent can lead to a one-year prison sentence and a €45,000 fine, while publishing such footage without consent carries a one-year prison term and a €15,000 fine. Following these developments, Airbnb has decided to ban cameras in all accommodations.