Fogging (censorship)

Fogging, also known as blurring, is used for censorship or privacy. An area for a picture or movie is blurred to obscure it from sight. This form of censorship is used for sexually related images/scenes, hiding genitals, pubic hair, or sexual penetration of any sort. Pixelization is a form of fogging. In Japan, where it is called "bokashi", fogging is employed on most films aired on public television that feature adult content of any kind.
This form of editing also appears in television programs where an individual's face may not be shown due to legal or privacy concerns. As it does not contrast with the surrounding image very much, it is preferable over most other forms of censorship.. However, unlike other forms of visual censoring, it does not allow to preserve any information about the original stimulus. Fogging is also used if the scenes which are too bloody and gruesome to be rendered even in black and white, over vehicle license plates, mainly to protect the identities of the vehicles' owners, and over branded items and specific company names to obscure their background.