How your phone’s flashlight can expose hidden hotel cameras

During vacation season, many people stay in hotels. Surely some of them have wondered whether there are hidden cameras in their rented rooms. These fears are also heightened because, with technological advancements, recording devices can be so small that hiding them would not be a particular problem.

There is, however, a simple method that can help dispel our doubts and check for unwanted objects in our rooms without the use of specialized equipment. It's also good to know where to look.

To ensure there are no hidden cameras in our rented room, it is worth checking the places that allow a potential voyeur to capture the widest view. These places could be ventilation grilles, lamps, or smoke detectors.

The same applies to the bathroom; it's also important to check cabinets and lamps around the mirror. Other places that could be used to hide cameras include electronic devices in the room: televisions, radios, routers, phones, or alarm clocks. It's also worth checking decorative elements in the room, lamps, and even flower pots.

To find a hidden camera in a hotel room (assuming one has indeed been installed), a regular flashlight — even the one on virtually every phone — is enough. The goal is simply a strong light source. The experiment is best conducted in the evening, with the windows covered and the lights turned off.

Then, turn on the flashlight and illuminate the aforementioned places from different angles. Your attention should be caught by an unusual, bluish tint in the light. This reflection appears when bright light hits a camera lens. If we find something suspicious, we should immediately report it to the hotel staff and consider changing our accommodation.