MapQuest adds surveillance camera locations to mobile app

MapQuest has introduced a new “Surveillance Layer” to its mobile app, allowing users to identify the locations of outdoor surveillance cameras and license plate readers. The feature displays cameras from various providers, including Flock Safety, Axon, Motorola Solutions, and Genetec, using a small red eye icon and a vision cone to indicate the direction the camera is facing.

While the app does not currently offer a feature to route users away from these cameras, it provides visibility into the presence of surveillance technology. The data appears to be sourced from crowdsourced projects like DeFlock, which tracks nearly 144,000 cameras across the United States. This move comes amid growing public debate regarding the prevalence of widespread surveillance and license plate tracking.