Google Maps has been blurring people’s faces for a long time due to privacy concerns. But as some have noticed, it sometimes seems to blur the faces of dogs and some animals as well, giving them some privacy.
There are several possible explanations for why animals become blurred, including an algorithm that thinks faces are human. Besides the algorithm, Google Maps users may also be taking on the task of blurring their animals’ faces for unknown reasons.
Google on its privacy information page states, “When we create Street View content with user-submitted video recordings, we apply our algorithms to automatically blur faces and license plates. When users submit non-video content, we don’t automatically apply blur technology, but users can apply blur to their own photos.” “If they want, they can use the blur tool in the Street View app. If you find your face, license plate or house in the image added by a user contribution, and you want the image removed, use the report a problem feature on the image.”
As it can be understood from here, users can request such details to be blurred if they wish. But as you can see below, this can sometimes even happen to a cow.
Anyone know why this cow had it’s face blurred out on Google Maps??!! ????@tobytarrant is on air NOW pic.twitter.com/c7Y4HDXJpo
— Capital (@CapitalOfficial) September 19, 2016
In short, blurry animal faces can have two explanations. Either Google’s algorithm does this by believing that animals are a little too furry people, or some users really take their pet’s privacy very seriously. Even if this animal is a cow…
We won’t be able to tell which one is correct until Google makes a statement.
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