Google Maps Street View adds feature to blur out parts of images

Google Maps Street View is giving people the option to decide what level of privacy they want. You can use the “report a problem” feature to request something be blurred out, be it your face, license plate, window or the entire house.

Street View gives people detailed looks at places from the perspective of a car-mounted camera. The feature opened up the public versus private debate: Google’s imaging car uses public roads to take pictures of your private property. It’s no different than neighbors installing video cameras pointed at each other’s houses. Both are legal, but there are instances in which it can invade someone’s privacy.

“It’s interesting how people were so excited to have their houses shown on Google Maps and now they’re afraid of it,” said Eugene Hoyt, Florida Gulf Coast University cybersecurity expert. “I do understand the afraid part, because there’s discussions that have to do with women that have been battered and they’re trying to make sure that the people they escaped from cannot find them again.”

Some Fort Myers residents think the blurring option is a great feature to have, while others don’t plan on using this for their home.

“That’s what’s important, that each person gets to choose so that your residences are shown as you choose to show it,” said Elizabeth Phelps.

“If I’m interested in going there, if I’m interested in shopping for a home, whatever the occasion, I think it’s very useful,” said Joan Peer. “You get a general feel for what that area is like.”

If you don’t want to blur out your home permanently, you can always request that Google come out and reimage your home. Reimaging is typically done every three to five years.