Apple Maps erects gigantic digital wall to hide Tim Cook’s house

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Tim Cook's house in Apple Maps
Cook's Palo Alto home is hidden from virtual visitors.
Image: Apple Maps

Apple fans who take a virtual stroll through Palo Alto inside Apple Maps and Google Maps no longer get to see Tim Cook’s house. The modern, four-bedroom condo has had a giant digital wall erected right in front of it.

We spotted the change after Apple received temporary restraining order against an alleged stalker, who claimed to be Cook’s wife, threatened the Apple boss and was caught trespassing on his property.

Tim Cook’s house goes incognito inside Google Maps

It’s not uncommon to see certain things blurred out inside Apple Maps and Google Maps. Both services regularly conceal things like faces and license plates. However, it is rare to see entire buildings hidden behind big, blurry walls.

But that’s all you get when you visit Cook’s house in Palo Alto, California, today. The rather modest home (for the CEO of the world’s biggest company, at least), which is believed to be worth $3.5 million, can no longer be seen in street view.

Google Maps blurs out Apple CEO Tim Cook's house, too
Google Maps blurs out Tim Cook’s house, too.
Image: Google Maps

Although it’s not completely clear why Cook’s house has been hidden, it likely has something to do with a rather disturbing series of events revealed in court documents filed in Santa Clara County. Apple’s application for a temporary restraining order against an alleged stalker contained copies of emails sent to Cook along with other details about the incidents in question. The documents also included the Apple CEO’s home address in Palo Alto.

Google took similar steps to blur out Billie Eilish’s primary residence in Los Angeles last year when she, too, was granted a temporary restraining order against a man who repeatedly showed up at her home.

Cook’s ‘wife’ told to stay away

Cook’s stalker began tagging the Apple CEO in worrisome tweets that referred to him as her husband and the father of her twins. She also demanded that other CEOs stop following Cook on Twitter.

“I notify you both unfollow each other,” one of the tweets, which tagged Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, read. “I can smell, see, and feel both of you. Tim Cook is my bed man. My husband, my twins’ daddy. Stop doing that shit!”

“Sandra Pichia [sic], CEO of Google insisting to interrupt Cook’s love and tried to hurt me several times,” read another. “Totally understand my husband’s past and relationships with unexpected parties.”

The 45-year-old Virginia woman is now barred from possessing a gun and getting within 200 yards of Cook and other Apple employees. She also cannot visit any Apple property or Cook’s home.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Cult of Mac.

You can hide your home, too

If you would prefer for your home to be censored inside Apple Maps and Google Maps, all you have to do is file a request. Apple has a webpage that explains the process, while Google takes requests inside Google Maps.

Here’s more info on how to blur out your house in Apple Maps and Google Maps.

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