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Want out of Google’s all-seeing eye?

However meritorious Google Earth, and its urban counterpart Google StreetView – for those that enjoy the altogether different charms of privacy, do keep reading.

Assuming you do not want your abode to be nakedly featured on the all-seeing eye-view of our world, it is possible to remove it altogether. Google’s presence may be ubiquitous – but doesn’t the aphorism go something like 'too much of one thing can be bad for you'?

Opinion aside, here is a simple guide to removing all trace of your dominion, face, or number-plate: 

Here are the basics: When on the Google applications, go to the following link in the bottom left of the screen: 

Google SV3 

Once you have clicked on that, the following page contains a list. Click on the icon that best describes the problem: 

Google SV1

Finally – focus on the face, car, or house on the ‘Street Image’

They provide a detailed version of the street view image you reported, where you need to adjust the red box in 3D by moving your mouse and focus on the part of the image you are reporting. Like so: 

Google SV2

Submit it, and your privacy is restored.

By Edward Hockings

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Big Brother Watch Posted in Online privacy
  • LeChiffre

    Edward: could you provide the URL of the starting page “Google applications”?

  • http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com FaustiesBlog

    Here’s more info, Edward.

  • http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com FaustiesBlog
  • Norbert Nosnail

    Your privacy is restored – until the government ask them to hand the original information over.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/alexdeane Alex Deane

    Absolutely – this is a sticking plaster rather than a cure as the company still has the images – but at least they’re not publicly viewable once this is done

  • Mars Mercury

    Where do you begin? How do you even look for these images anyway? How do you know your face, etc. is in their system?

  • Thom

    Er, it’s a photo from the past. Long ago. A still shot even. How in the world is privacy restored when getting a picture of the outside of your house blurred? It’s the outside wall that everyone sees when walking or driving by. It’s the public view, not a private view. You’ve actually obscured the public view, there is no privacy to restore when there was none to begin with since it’s out in public.
    Privacy is on the inside of the house, not the outside. That’s why the outside is referred to as public. It’s public, it goes both ways, you are seen and being seen. That’s the way I “see” it, anyways.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/mayerssean Sean Mayers

    I am not terribly certain how this would apply to flat buildings. Whatever the case, I am testing out Google’s response to this having flagged the frontage of my flat building here in central London. I will update you on their response.
    Just found out this morning that EU data privacy regulators (ha, a fine lot they are :/) have required Google to post notice of when/where pictures will be taken.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/7322309/Googles-EU-warning-over-Street-View-privacy.html

  • flubbr

    People dont forget to request that they remove all of your property including the garden, roof, etc etc

  • Elizabeth

    The car plates etc can be obscured but side entrances, easy access side gates (or not) can be noted and STUDIED: a burglar’s online bible! Get yourself off GOOGLE fast (NB http://www.rightmove.com – the property website use the Streetview system too) Genuine concern over personal security – that’s the reason – possibly the Gov has better images to check your bins!
    Let your frineds know – block it all – let’s check our success by voulme of blocked out sections – as much as we can – well at least to dodgy members of the public