MapQuest has added a Surveillance Layer to its mobile app that plots known outdoor surveillance cameras and automated license plate readers. The control appears in Map Options alongside traffic and incident overlays, according to Engadget.
MapQuest says the layer covers known devices from Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions’ Vigilant system, Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo’s ELSAG, Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia and Verkada, plus other outdoor cameras.
What appears on the map
After users turn on the Surveillance option, CNET reports that eye-shaped markers identify camera locations. Selecting a marker can show details such as the device type and coordinates. This Week in Security also found that the app can display the direction a reader faces.
MapQuest has not explained how it obtains the location data, CNET reported. Digital Trends cautioned that coverage can vary between areas, so a missing marker does not necessarily mean a street has no surveillance camera.
What license plate readers record
Automated license plate readers photograph passing vehicles and convert details including plate numbers, vehicle make, color, time and location into searchable records, Business Insider explains. Police departments use those records to find vehicles and identify suspects, while some retailers use the cameras for security.
Critics have raised concerns about misuse and data sharing, including with federal immigration authorities. Flock has said its readers do not use facial recognition and that customers control access and sharing. Business Insider reported that the company reduced its retention period from 30 days to seven days amid the backlash.
MapQuest’s layer does not disable cameras or prevent collection. It gives users a way to see where surveillance equipment has been reported, although Engadget notes that avoiding it may be difficult on familiar routes.
