Street View Privacy for Public Art

During integration of Google Street View into Portland Wild, I noticed something surprising. Google was blurring the faces of inhabitants of Portland’s public art, even high above street level.

Here’s a five story living mural recently completed on Division Street in which Google blurs the subject’s face to protect its privacy:

Living Mural at 959 SE Division Street

As someone who’s backside was once the centerpiece of my home’s street view appearance for a couple of years, I appreciate their efforts.

Unfiltered, my backside at home

Cleavage Remains Okay

Several subjects from this block long Keller Auditorium Mural were blurred, while others weren’t … for now, cleavage is still okay:

Keller Auditorium Mural, 1520 SW 2nd Avenue

Keller Auditorium Mural, 1598 SW 2nd Ave

Angle Impacts Face Detection

The angle of the street view impacts whether Google detects a person, hopefully this doesn’t foreshadow problems with literal impacts of self-driving cars:

Angle Affects Face Detection

Here’s the four story Untitled, Washington Plaza mural:

Untitled, Washington Plaza Mural

Here’s The Fiercest Athlete’s Mural:

The Fiercest Athletes, SW 10th Ave

Here’s local legend Steve Prefontaine featured in part of The Cheerful Tortoise Mural (or is he running out of the establishment?):

The Cheerful Tortoise Mural, 1939 SW 6th

If you enjoy street art, check out Portland Wild, a Google maps driven visual guide to Portland’s public art and its Heritage Trees and Little Free Libraries.