Have you ever seen your home on a mapping service and wished some details weren’t so visible? If so, you might be interested in the option to blur private properties in Google Street View. This little-known feature allows homeowners to obscure their residences, ensuring that no sensitive information is publicly accessible.
Protecting your privacy in the digital world
There’s something surreal about seeing your house on a mapping platform. While it offers a remarkable tool for exploration, it also raises valid concerns regarding privacy. You might not want your car parked outside your home or other details prominently displayed for anyone browsing the internet. Thankfully, there’s an answer to this dilemma.
The ability to blur houses or private properties isn’t a recent feature; it has been part of the service for years. Many people simply might not have heard about it before.
Steps to blur your house in Google Street View
The process is straightforward, yet it isn’t instantaneous. After all, Google needs to verify the information you provide to ensure you’re the rightful owner of the property in question. Otherwise, anyone could claim to have ownership and throw the system into disarray.
The method takes only a few minutes. Once Google has verified your request, your house will be blurred, offering a layer of privacy that many might find comforting. Here’s how you can navigate through the process:
First, open Google Maps in your web browser and locate your address. Access Street View to see the real image of your home. From there, you’ll click on the “Report a problem” option located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Next, adjust the box to encapsulate all details you want to obscure, especially any personal items or sensitive sections of your property. When prompted, select “House” as your reason for the request. Google will ask for further documentation to confirm your identity along with proof of ownership. This could include utility bills, deeds, or similar documents.
After you’ve submitted the required information, Google will review the request to see if your property qualifies for blurring. They will not make a decision based on the current Street View image; their focus will be on verifying your ownership. If all checks are satisfactory, they will proceed to blur the specified area based on your request.
Keep in mind that no timeframe is guaranteed for processing your request. Since it’s a manual operation, it could take a while for the changes to be seen in the mapping service. To improve your chances of approval, gather your information carefully; the more thorough your submission, the likelier you’ll receive a positive outcome.
A permanent decision
Finally, it’s essential to recognize that this process is permanent. If Google approves your application, there’s no reverting it back. Your property will remain blurred in Street View as per your request, so think carefully before proceeding.
