Poland requests Google blur its military bases on Street View maps

A Formal Request for Digital Obscurity

The Polish Defense Ministry has submitted a formal request to Google, asking the tech giant to mask objects deemed "important for the security and defense of the state" across its mapping services. According to the ministry, the process is already complete for satellite views on Google Maps and Google Earth. Work is now in the preparation stage to implement similar blurring for the ground-level, 360-degree imagery provided by Google Street View. This move highlights the ongoing tension between public digital transparency and national security in the online mapping era.

The Investigation That Prompted Action

The government's request came after an investigation by the Polish outlet Interia. The probe revealed that Street View imagery from as recently as July 2025 showed sensitive details at military sites across the country. These publicly accessible images included views of CCTV camera locations, radar systems, antennas, and armed soldiers. Notably, while major military sites had long been blurred on the overhead satellite maps, the Street View images of the exact same locations remained fully visible, creating a significant oversight.

A Common Global Security Concern

Poland's action is part of a wider, global pattern where governments seek to control the visibility of sensitive sites on commercial mapping platforms. For instance, the U.S. Department of Defense has previously banned Google from publishing Street View content of American military bases. Similarly, countries like India have partnered with Google to blur sensitive locations, and Indonesia has recently censored imagery of its military installations on Google Maps. These measures reflect a universal security dilemma posed by high-resolution, publicly available digital maps.

Balancing Risk with a Changing Strategic Landscape

In response to the findings, the Polish ministry downplayed the immediate risk, stating the publicly available images are "outdated" and reflect conditions from years ago, not the current state of the bases. However, this security request aligns with Poland's broader strategic focus. The country, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, has identified cybersecurity and digital sovereignty as key priorities. Polish officials have emphasized that cyber threats are the "first stage" of modern hybrid warfare and require robust civilian-military cooperation, suggesting that securing digital footprints is a component of this comprehensive defense strategy.