On the road in these municipalities Google Street View is filming again - how to make telltale photos unrecognizable
Google Street View is photographing Swiss streets again. Anyone who recognizes themselves in the images can have the photo pixelated. All you need to do is send an online message to Google.
The "Google Street View" online service is helpful if you want to take a look at an unfamiliar area. Google offers 360-degree photos of many important streets. These photos can be found on "Google Maps" or in the desktop program "Google Earth".
However, Google updates these photos very irregularly. Since April 2025, Google has been photographing streets, houses and landscapes in Switzerland more frequently again. This was first reported by the consumer magazine "Saldo". According to Google, the photos will be taken until October 2025.
Google Street View censors images on request
Not everyone is happy about this. Although Google automatically anonymizes faces and car numbers, the software is not always reliable and errors do occur. Faces or license plates can sometimes remain visible. This is problematic, as outsiders could find out where people are or even where they live.
Those affected do not have to put up with this and can ask Google to make their images unrecognizable: Open the affected image under Google Maps and click on "Blur image" in the bar at the bottom right. There you can select why a section of the image needs to be made unrecognizable.
The "Apple Maps" map service also offers this option. If you want your entire house to be made unrecognizable, you need to write an email to MapsImageCollection@apple.com. The private address and information are required so that Apple can identify the house precisely.
Google Street View will photograph the following regions from April 2025:
- Zurich: Zurich, Winterthur, Uster, Wetzikon, Dübendorf, Dietikon, Affoltern am Albis, Schlieren, Horgen, Bülach
- Berne: Berne, Biel/Bienne, Thun, Burgdorf, Langenthal, Interlaken, Olten, Neuchâtel, Fribourg.
- Lucerne: Lucerne, Emmen, Sursee, Wolhusen, Hochdorf, Kriens, Hergiswil, Ebikon, Altdorf, Sarnen
- Uri: Altdorf, Andermatt, Attinghausen, Bürglen, Erstfeld, Flüelen, Göschenen, Gurtnellen, Hospental, Isenthal, Realp, Schattdorf, Seedorf, Seelisberg, Silenen, Sisikon, Spiringen, Unterschächen, Wassen
- Schwyz: Schwyz, Arth, Ingenbohl, Muotathal, Steinen, Sattel, Rothenthurm, Oberiberg, Unteriberg, Lauerz, Steinerberg, Morschach, Alpthal, Illgau, Riemenstalden, Gersau
- Obwalden and Nidwalden: Sarnen, Kerns, Alpnach, Sachseln, Engelberg, Giswil, Lungern, Stalden, Melchsee-Frutt, Grafenort, Alpnachstad, Stans, Buochs, Beckenried, Ennetbürgen, Oberdorf, Wolfenschiessen
- Glarus: all municipalities (Glarus, Glarus North, Glarus South)
- Zug: Zug, Baar, Cham, Menzingen, Risch, Steinhausen, Walchwil
- Fribourg: Fribourg, Bulle, Murten, Morat, Payerne, Romont, Villars-sur-Glâne
- Solothurn: Solothurn, Grenchen, Olten, Langenthal, Balsthal, Bettlach, Biberist, Derendingen, Grenchen Nord, Neuendorf, Oensingen
- both Basel: Basel, Riehen, Bettingen, Liestal, Laufen, Sissach, Arlesheim, Pratteln, Muttenz, Binningen, Gelterkinden, Allschwil, Oberwil
- Schaffhausen: Schaffhausen, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Thayngen, Beringen, Stein am Rhein
- both Appenzell: Herisau, Trogen, Teufen, Gais, Urnäsch, Heiden, Appenzell, Lutzenberg, Rehetobel, Stein, Appenzell, Schwende, Rüte, Schlatt-Haslen, Brülisau, Gonten, Oberegg
- St. Gallen: St. Gallen, Rorschach, Wil, Gossau, Buchs
- Grisons: Chur, Davos, St. Moritz, Bellinzona, Brig, Thusis, Ilanz, Domat/Ems, Samedan, Laax, Churwalden, Flims
- Aargau: Aarau, Baden, Brugg, Wohlen, Bremgarten, Zofingen, Rheinfelden, Lenzburg, Wettingen, Neuenhof, Spreitenbach
- Thurgau: Frauenfeld, Kreuzlingen, Arbon, Weinfelden, Romanshorn, Amriswil, Diessenhofen, Aadorf, Münchwilen, Sulgen, Wängi
- Ticino: Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno, Chiasso, Mendrisio, Biasca, Faido, Airolo, Riviera, Monte Carasso, Ascona
- Vaud: Lausanne, Vevey, Yverdon-les-Bains, Nyon, Morges, Montreux, Bulle, Payerne, La Tour-de-Peilz, Aigle, Echallens
- Valais: Sion, Martigny, Monthey, Sierre, Brig-Glis
- Neuchâtel: Neuchâtel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Boudry, Yverdon-les-Bains
- Geneva: Geneva, Carouge, Vernier, Meyrin, Onex
- Jura: Delémont, Porrentruy, Moutier, Franches-Montagnes, Bassecourt
