According to the Engadget article, MapQuest has introduced a new feature that allows users to see the locations of known outdoor surveillance cameras and license‑plate readers directly in its mapping app. The functionality appears as a toggleable layer that sits alongside existing options for traffic and incidents, making it easy to find within the interface.
The layer specifically highlights where Flock cameras are located, but it also includes devices from a range of other manufacturers. The article lists Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia and Verkada as examples of the brands whose cameras are shown when the layer is activated.
MapQuest’s recent popularity boost is noted in the same piece, pointing out that the app gained traction after it declined to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” a choice made by Google Maps and Apple Maps. In addition to that stance, the service had previously added Android Auto support and public transit directions, which the article describes as long‑overdue improvements.
The announcement of the surveillance‑camera layer was accompanied by a short video set to the song “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell, a choice the article characterizes with the phrase “Chef’s kiss, no notes.”
While users may not be able to easily avoid these cameras on their regular commutes or routes, the layer can help illustrate how pervasive surveillance technology is in a given area. The article suggests that this information could be useful for residents who are seeking to reduce or eliminate surveillance cameras in their neighborhoods.
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