Why Blur License Plate Number?

[Freeman]

I have noticed that many posters have blurred their license plate numbers in their pics. What is the reason for this?

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[DevSecOps]

I'll give you my two cents... Coming from someone who protects people's data for a living.

First who can access your personal data from a license plate:

• Law enforcement (obviously)
• Lawyers
• Employees of insurance companies
• DMV employees (also obvious)

Now that we know who and how to get the data. Why would someone want this info?

Well that can be anything from posting pictures of burnouts (for prosecution) to talking about your expensive car collection (thieves). It can also invalidate an insurance claim if you talk about modifying your car if you suffered damages. They can also be forged for LPR or toll theft. Lastly, there's the crazy people who might stalk you or even use your license plate for identify theft purposes.

Granted, it's unlikely that any of that will actually happen, but it's the equivalent of shredding your address on spam snail mail. Or NOT posting that you're going on vacation on Facebook because you never know who will take that as an invitation to an unoccupied home.

 

[joes723]

As a quasi-millennial…Basically, anything you post on the internet; whether your social media, forums, etc…lives on forever. So there’s always a slim chance that someone could try and do something malicious with the info that’s publicly available. However, most don’t know that if you’re a homeowner that tax records and property records are also public information. Though, it’s usually a lot harder to find. Also there’s scammers that will copy license plates and try and do nefarious things.

 

[AaronTV]

I have noticed that many posters have blurred their license plate numbers in their pics. What is the reason for this?

I've always felt confused by this. It's literally public information. Everywhere I drive, it's displayed for anyone around me to see. Apart from some extremely unlikely (but theoretically possible) scenario as described in the first reply above, there's nothing anyone can do with this information that I care about.

I don't bother masking my plate info if I'm posting a car pic online.

 

[Kabish]

In CA it does not really matter. Its almost impossible to get someone's info from just a plate number legally. However other states aren't as restrictive and you can get peoples info from a plate. Hell technically someone could potentially still get your CA info illegally if they knew the right people.

The reason to blur it on the internet is to not link you to your internet presence.. For example, I have a pretty uncommon picture of my car in my profile. It could be fair to assume I use this picture on other media, or maybe shared it on another site showing my love of the car. From there we go down the rabbit hole of finding your internet presence. The more of a profile you leave on the internet, the easier it is for someone to use that info for malicious reasons.

Maybe I post something that someone does not like. Now them coming across a post of my car without a blurred plate could result in them knowing everything linked to my plate.

Its all about internet privacy, and keeping your personal information where it should be, personal.

 

[Jimrpa]

Sad to say, while most people with access to license plate databases would never use them for any nefarious purpose, we’ve just seen too many examples of some of those people behaving … less than honorably in other circumstances. Why ask for trouble?

 

[KevinS]

Even Google, not exactly a bastion of privacy, blurs license plate numbers in Google Street View.

 

[alexgorod]

I can see a situation when I write something offensive to someone, and that person sees me in reality and recognizes me by my posted license plate, and decides to get even by damaging my property or hurting myself.

But I never post anything that I am not comfortable to say to someone directly, and I don't hide my license plate.

 

[Mach1E]

I've always felt confused by this. It's literally public information. Everywhere I drive, it's displayed for anyone around me to see. Apart from some extremely unlikely (but theoretically possible) scenario as described in the first reply above, there's nothing anyone can do with this information that I care about.

I don't bother masking my plate info if I'm posting a car pic online.

The short answer? People are paranoid.

People try to hide information that’s VERY public all the time.

Too much watching the news. Too many lifetime channel movies. Too much internet.

Take your pick. People are scared of the wrong things all the time.

Reminds me of this thread:https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/cant-figure-out-how-to-set-the-home-setting.5535/

People were afraid to put their home address in their Navigation because a valet could figure out their address…….. except that your address is public record already. Anyone with google can find you. No need to check your NAV.

 

[Jimrpa]

The short answer? People are paranoid.

People try to hide information that’s VERY public all the time.

Too much watching the news. Too many lifetime channel movies. Too much internet.

Take your pick. People are scared of the wrong things all the time.

Reminds me of this thread:https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/cant-figure-out-how-to-set-the-home-setting.5535/

People were afraid to put their home address in their Navigation because a valet could figure out their address…….. except that your address is public record already. Anyone with google can find you. No need to check your NAV.

Ok, you got me, my only source of news is The Onion and I rely on the Bill Maher show for balanced, fair commentary on issues of the day ???? oh, and I believe everything I read in the Sun ???

 

[DR.J56]

Your VIN is also in the open for everyone to see.

 

[Mach1E]

Ok, you got me, my only source of news is The Onion and I rely on the Bill Maher show for balanced, fair commentary on issues of the day ???? oh, and I believe everything I read in the Sun ???

No worries, just show me something dangerous happening from someone finding someone on the internet and hurting them in person using their license plate.

Feel free to search.

No clue why people seem to be afraid of things that have never happened or maybe happened to literally one in a billion people.

You drive everywhere with your license plate in full view. I’d be more worried about accidentally cutting someone off and road rage.

Lol I do appreciate the humor of somehow you made me sound crazy for NOT being paranoid.

 

[generaltso]

I have noticed that many posters have blurred their license plate numbers in their pics. What is the reason for this?

The obvious answer is:

Spoiler

Because everyone else does

 

[Logal727]

I'll give you my two cents... Coming from someone who protects people's data for a living.

First who can access your personal data from a license plate:

• Law enforcement (obviously)
• Lawyers
• Employees of insurance companies
• DMV employees (also obvious)

Now that we know who and how to get the data. Why would someone want this info?

Well that can be anything from posting pictures of burnouts (for prosecution) to talking about your expensive car collection (thieves). It can also invalidate an insurance claim if you talk about modifying your car if you suffered damages. They can also be forged for LPR or toll theft. Lastly, there's the crazy people who might stalk you or even use your license plate for identify theft purposes.

Granted, it's unlikely that any of that will actually happen, but it's the equivalent of shredding your address on spam snail mail. Or NOT posting that you're going on vacation on Facebook because you never know who will take that as an invitation to an unoccupied home.

My confusion has been that you’re out and about every day and people always see your license plate, so what’s the difference?

 

[Carsinmyblood]

Even Google, not exactly a bastion of privacy, blurs license plate numbers in Google Street View.

That's after someone complained about being seen making a bootie call.

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