MapQuest has introduced a new surveillance layer in its app to show known outdoor cameras and license plate readers from multiple providers, including Flock Safety. This feature can be toggled on alongside traffic and incident information, reflecting the app’s recent surge in downloads and its expanding feature set.
- MapQuest users can enable a surveillance camera layer in Map Options.
- The layer features devices from Flock Safety and several other manufacturers.
- Surveillance camera locations are crowdsourced and visible alongside traffic info.
What happened
MapQuest has launched a new map layer in its app that displays the locations of outdoor surveillance cameras and license plate readers. This includes devices from Flock Safety, one of the largest US license plate reader manufacturers, as well as those from brands like Motorola Solutions, Genetec, and Verkada. Users can turn on this layer in Map Options, positioned alongside existing traffic and incident layers.
This feature was announced following an increase in MapQuest downloads in September and complements recent app updates, such as adding Android Auto support and public transit directions. The surveillance layer data is crowdsourced, allowing users to submit the locations of cameras and contribute to the map's comprehensiveness.
Why it matters
Displaying surveillance camera locations directly on a navigation app represents a new approach to public transparency around urban surveillance infrastructure. License plate readers and cameras collect geotagged vehicle data that police and private entities can query, raising privacy and civil liberties concerns, including accusations of unconstitutional mass surveillance in some court rulings.
MapQuest’s decision to highlight these devices acknowledges the growing public scrutiny of surveillance technologies. By providing clear visibility of where cameras are installed, the app equips users with information that could affect their privacy choices and sparks wider conversation about the balance between security and surveillance.
What to watch next
Further developments to the surveillance layer could include integration with real-time alerts or expanded data on camera operators and surveillance practices. The crowdsourced approach may also lead to community engagement and reporting on surveillance proliferation in different regions.
Additionally, as legal challenges and public debates intensify over license plate readers and surveillance cameras, regulatory responses could influence how apps like MapQuest present such data. Observers should also watch whether other mapping platforms adopt similar transparency features.