Google works with trusted third-party companies which gather imagery in the form of short videos from commercial and consumer dash cam manufacturers. To keep our maps fresh and up to date, Google uses imagery to detect and verify real-world changes, such as speed limit updates and new traffic signs. Google does not publish this imagery.
In this article, you can find more details about:
- What kind of imagery Google uses
- How we use the imagery
- How we ensure privacy
- Who we work with
About the imagery
Google licenses imagery in the form of short, silent video clips from vehicle dash cams from trusted third-party companies. These companies use dash cams in their own everyday operations. For example, they may use them to collect imagery for accident investigations, or they may sell such devices to consumers. With contributor consent, these companies share imagery with trusted partners like Google to help update Google Maps, or as a first step in making road improvements.
We request imagery only in areas where we have an indication that an update to our map is needed. For example, we can ask a partner for a short clip of a specific stretch of road that includes a speed limit sign. If the partner has recent imagery of this stretch of road, Google can use it to help update the speed limit that we show in Maps.
How the imagery used
To identify map-related details such as new speed limit signs, Google uses a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and help from our operations team. We extract the info and update Google Maps before deleting the imagery.
Protecting privacy
Google adheres to high privacy standards when we collect and use this imagery:
- We only license content from trusted sources.
- All contributors are notified of the dash cam use, and consumers opt-in to sharing brief video clips to help update the map.
- Both our partners and Google use cutting-edge technology to help blur personal info, such as identifiable faces and license plates.
- Google does not publish the imagery.
- We only request short clips from public roads, and only where map updates are needed.
- The imagery is discarded shortly after use.
To find out more about the data collection approach of our partners, you can check their websites.
Google partners
Currently, we work with the following partners. Each partner has its own data collection methodology, and they provide details about this on their websites: