MapQuest adds Surveillance Layer mapping license plate reader locations
MapQuest has released an app update featuring a new Surveillance Layer that plots the locations of license plate readers from Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions, Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, and several other manufacturers. The company announced the feature on Bluesky, noting that it also shows the direction each camera faces, letting users identify and potentially avoid known automatic license plate recognition devices.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The update echoes earlier independent efforts, like a security researcher's Flock Surveillance Map, suggesting growing public appetite for tools that expose the scope of ALPR networks. It arrives amid ongoing debate over these systems: police and cities say they aid public safety, while critics point to privacy abuses and wrongful detentions, which has already led some municipalities to remove the cameras. MapQuest's move could further empower privacy-conscious drivers while raising fresh questions about how the location data was sourced.
- MapQuest's Surveillance Layer maps license plate readers from Flock, Motorola Solutions, Genetec, Axon, and other vendors.
- The feature shows camera direction, helping users potentially avoid detection by ALPR systems.
- The update reflects wider scrutiny of license plate readers amid privacy concerns and past misuse incidents.
Garmin DriveSmart GPS Navigator — If you like the idea of mapping tools that give you more control over your route, a dedicated GPS navigator like the Garmin DriveSmart offers reliable turn-by-turn directions without relying on your phone's data connection. It's a great complement to apps like MapQuest for drivers who want extra navigation options on the road.
See Garmin DriveSmart GPS Navigator on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Jowi Morales, 2026-10-18
Published there as: “Flock camera locations revealed on MapQuest’s new Surveillance Layer”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.