Overview

• Google’s Street View “Report a problem” tool lets homeowners and tenants request a permanent, irreversible blur of their property.
• Law enforcement figures like Riverside Officer Ryan Railsback and John Jay College’s Christopher Herrmann initially endorsed blurring to prevent burglars from using online imagery to scout entry points.
• Cybersecurity consultant Joseph Steinberg and London PLondon Police guidance caution that a lone blurred house may draw criminal attention instead of deterring it.
• Most burglaries are opportunistic acts that rely on visible signs of vulnerability, such as open windows or high-value deliveries, rather than on detailed digital reconnaissance.
• The debate highlights a growing tension between digital privacy and everyday convenience as homeowners weigh the benefits and risks of obscuring their addresses.