August 9, 2026, 6:30 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The data protection officer responsible for Google is changing the rules for pixelation requests in Street View. In the future, more information will be required to obscure a house or apartment.
More Details Instead of General Requests
Anyone wishing to pixelate a property in Google Street View must provide more precise information starting in July 2026. The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, responsible for Google, points this out. In the future, it will no longer be sufficient to simply request pixelation in general terms.
Instead, applicants must at least provide the full address of the affected property. In multi-family buildings, additional information may be required, such as the floor or a more detailed description of the apartment. The aim of the new guidelines is to enable clear identification and prevent misuse. For example, applications that refer to buildings or apartments not owned by the applicants should be prevented.
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The Right to Pixelation Remains
The fundamental rights of owners and tenants remain unchanged by the new requirements. They can still request that their house facade be permanently obscured in Google Street View. According to the data protection officer, Google generally does not require proof of ownership or a rental agreement for this.
The application can be submitted in several ways. Users can use the official Street View form, send an email to Google, or use the “Report a problem” function directly in Street View. If an application is approved, the pixelation remains permanent and is not easily reversed. The changes thus only affect the application process, not the existing right to object.
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Data Protection Officer Advises Data Minimization
Anyone submitting documents to Google for an application should disclose as little personal information as possible. The Hamburg data protection officer recommends redacting all information not required for processing. This includes, in particular, the names of third parties as well as account, contract, or billing data.
It is also expressly advised against submitting an ID card. This applies despite Google’s statement that submitted documents are deleted within 60 days of receipt. The automatic pixelation of faces and license plates also remains unchanged. According to data protection officials, the level of detail in Street View images still justifies a right to object, as facades, properties, or parked vehicles can provide insights into private living conditions. Therefore, affected buildings can still be obscured upon request in the future.