Increase in Blurring Number Plates

[48k]

Has anyone else noticed an increase in programmes blurring number plates on vehicles or am I imagining it?

I can appreciate there might be a privacy issue if it is a celeb's car, but it seems unusual/unnecessary when programmes such as Escape to the Chateau are blurring out Pierre the Plumber's van reg for example. It seems like any time a vehicle is in short they blur the reg. I don't recall programmes ever going to such lengths previously, is it on the rise or am I imagining it?

[randlemarcus]

A VRM is, and this is not pushing the idea too far, Personally Identifying Information. It's just easier to blur them than get signed permissions, I suspect. I also suspect that some TV companies have bought VRM blurring software, probably from Google

[thegreenhell]

It's not just number plates that get blurred. It seems to be any form of text or logo, whether signwriting on a van or slogan on a teeshirt. Some shots are more blurred than not.