For some individuals, maintaining privacy is of utmost importance. One unique way to safeguard your anonymity, much like some well-known personalities, is by having your home blurred on Google Maps.
The Google Maps Street View car has captured peculiar scenes, including a group of Billy the Puppets from the Saw franchise on the streets of St Petersburg and a triangular tower at Area 51.
While Google automatically blurs faces, car license plates, and any nudity, users can also request that the company blur their home on Maps.
This method is commonly used by public figures and celebrities, ensuring their privacy by preventing people from sneaking a peek into their homes.
However, it’s not just reserved for the wealthy and famous. Anyone can request Google Maps to blur their home, and the process is quite straightforward.
To initiate this, open the Maps app and enter your home address.
Once your property appears on the screen, click on ‘report a problem’. The app will prompt you to explain the reason for your report.
Select ‘request blurring’ and choose ‘my home’.
Next, adjust the box to cover your entire property, including any external structures or gardens, ensuring everything is obscured.
To finalize, enter your email address, and your home will no longer be easily visible online.
Discussing the decision to obscure some properties, Google stated: “Google takes a number of steps to protect the privacy of individuals when Street View imagery is published to Google Maps.
“We have developed cutting-edge face and licence plate blurring technology that is designed to blur identifiable faces and licence plates within Google-contributed imagery in Street View.
“If you see that your face or licence plate requires additional blurring, or if you would like us to blur your entire house, car or body, submit a request using the ‘Report a problem’ tool.”
Ryan Railsback, a police officer from the Riverside Police Department in Southern California, noted that blurring your house on Google Maps can deter potential burglars from assessing your home for valuables or security systems.
He told ABC News: “The crooks are looking for new and innovative ways to victimize people. It’s good for the public to be aware of that and counter what the criminals are already doing.”
However, Christopher Herrmann, a law and police science professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, cautioned that it might have unintended consequences. He suggested it could pique burglars’ curiosity if a home is the sole blurred property on a street.
He remarked: “It may be more of a red flag.”
Some are only now realizing they can remove their homes from Street View and have shared their thoughts on Reddit.
“Not everybody likes to see you doing nice in life we live in a world of people wanting 5 finger discounts,” one person shared. “If thieves have a option to look at a house without even being there I 100% don’t want to be a part of that.”
Another user mentioned that their home became blurred following a series of break-ins and incidents on their farm.
So, if you ever see the Google Maps camera cruising down your street while you’re out in your pajamas, at least you know you can blur yourself out quickly.