By admin 
Is your home pictured on Google Maps?
Google sends Street View cars mounted with 360-degree cameras, GPS systems and laser scanners to capture pictures of locations around the world.
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“Street View stitches together billions of panoramic images to provide a virtual representation of our surroundings on Google Maps,” the company said, and help people navigate their environment.
People can also submit their own photos to contribute to the mapping of areas.
Sometimes, however, locations appear blurred on Google Street View.
Why are certain homes obscured on the website? How can you request your home to be blurred?
Here’s what to know:
Why are properties blurred on Google Street View?
According to Google Maps, Google Street View cars capture images of public roads and the properties adjacent to them.
“If an image contains inappropriate content, or you prefer your home, vehicle or full body not be shown, you can request it to be blurred,” Google said.
License plates and identifiable faces are automatically blurred under Google’s Street View imagery policy, although the tech company said you can request “additional blurring.”
What is considered inappropriate content?
According to Google, examples ofinppropriate content include:
- Intellectual property violations
- Sexually explicit content
- Illegal, dangerous or violent content
- Harassment and threats
- Hate speech
- Terrorist content
- Child endangerment
- Personally identifiable information
There are exceptions for content with “artistic, educational or documentary value,” the cit ysaid.
If you find inappropriate content on Street View, you can report it to Google online.
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Who can request to have a home blurred?
Only homeowners or tenants can request to have a house blurred on Google Street View, according to the tech company.
“Requests for blurring of property in the U.S. must be accompanied by a document with proof of address,” Google’s help desk said.
To submit an application to blur your property, click on the “Report a problem” link at the bottom of the Street View image and fill out a form.
You’ll be asked why you’re reporting the image.
You can then upload documentation proving your address, such as letters, utility bills or bank statements sent in the past six months.
Leases are also accepted as proof of residency, no matter when they were signed.
Is blurring permanent?
Once a location has been blurred on Google Street View, it can’t be unblurred.
“When we receive and apply a blur request, the blur is permanent,” Google said.
“We also ensure that the newly blurred Street View image is excluded from generative AI prompting from that point onward, honoring your privacy choice,” the tech company said, adding that new blur requests do not affect any AI-generated imagery” that has already been created by third parties.
This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 10:18 AM with the headline “Why are CA homes blurred on Google Maps? Here’s the reason some areas are hidden.”
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