Hotel privacy inspection checklist — for hoteliers and guests

Update 14 April 2026: checklist reviewed; TSCM methodology and legal framework (art. 139f Sr, GDPR art. 33) remain fully current.

Hidden cameras in hotels are a real and growing problem. This practical checklist helps both hoteliers and guests to recognise, prevent and effectively respond to privacy risks. The list is based on SAJ Recherche’s methodology for professional TSCM room inspections.

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Checklist for hoteliers

Prevention & policy

• Is there a written privacy inspection protocol for hotel rooms?
• Are new employees (cleaning, technical services, reception) trained in recognising suspicious objects?
• Are periodic TSCM inspections carried out, at minimum quarterly for suites and VIP rooms?
• Is there a reporting protocol for staff who encounter a suspicious object?
• Do contracts with external cleaning and maintenance services include a privacy clause?
• Is there a documented incident response protocol in the event a guest reports a camera?

Technical controls

• Have all standard objects in hotel rooms been inventoried? (power sockets, smoke detectors, clocks, USB chargers, etc.)
• Are room routers and Wi-Fi networks regularly checked for unknown connected devices?
• Are technical installations (air conditioning, TV, smoke detector) from verifiable suppliers?
• Are replaced or repaired objects inventoried and inspected?

Compliance & documentation

• Is there a GDPR processing register that also covers potential data breaches?
• Is the procedure for reporting obligations to the Dutch Data Protection Authority (72 hours) known internally?
• Does the hotel hold a TSCM compliance report from a recognised detective agency?
• Have insurances been checked for coverage of privacy incidents?

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Checklist for guests: checking your hotel room

What you can do immediately upon arrival

• Switch off the room lights and scan the room with your phone torch for unusual reflections (camera lenses have a characteristic reflection)
• Check all power sockets for extra holes, conspicuous colour differences or loose plastic
• Inspect the smoke detector: is it in the standard position? Does it look different from other detectors in the corridor?
• Check alarm clocks, USB chargers and decorative objects for small openings or lenses
• Consider the viewing angles: which spots provide a clear view of the bed or bathroom?
• Scan the room’s Wi-Fi network for unknown devices (free apps such as Fing or Network Scanner)

Suspicious signs

• Objects that do not appear to belong in the room’s inventory (new alarm clock, extra USB charger)
• LED lights that flash or are active without an obvious reason
• Small holes in walls, ceilings or objects in unusual locations
• Cables that do not connect to anything or disappear under carpets or furniture
• Warm objects that are not actively in use

What to do if you find or suspect something

1. Touch nothing — preserve fingerprints and digital traces
2. Photograph the location with your phone
3. Inform hotel management — ask for a different room and written confirmation
4. File a police report (Art. 139f Dutch Criminal Code)
5. Contact SAJ Recherche for a professional inspection and a legally usable report

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What professional inspection adds

A visual inspection by a guest is useful as a first step, but has limitations:

Method	Detects active camera	Detects switched-off camera	Legal report
Visual inspection (guest)	Partially	No	No
Phone app	Wi-Fi only	No	No
Professional TSCM (SAJ Recherche)	Yes	Yes (via NLJD)	Yes

Professional detection equipment — spectrum analysis, NLJD and camera lens detection — is the only method that also detects switched-off and passive cameras and produces evidence usable in a police report.

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Periodic inspections for hotels: what we recommend

SAJ Recherche advises hotels on the following inspection regime:

Room type	Recommended frequency
Executive suites and VIP rooms	Monthly
Meeting rooms and boardrooms	After each external use
Standard hotel rooms	Quarterly (sample)
After incident or report	Immediately (urgent investigation)

With periodic inspections you receive a TSCM compliance report after each inspection — proof that you as a hotelier have taken proactive steps in the context of your duty of care.

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More information:

• Hidden camera detection in hotel — TSCM room inspection
• Hidden cameras in hotels: legal liability
• What is a TSCM inspection?
• Hospitality Privacy & Security

Read also

• Hidden cameras in hotels: legal liability
• Training hotel staff in hidden camera detection
• BBC documentary hidden cameras hotels: lessons

Related services: TSCM inspection · Hospitality Privacy & Security · Rates private detective

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SAJ Recherche B.V. is a licensed detective agency, POB licence 8779. KvK: 96790954. Inspections throughout the Netherlands.