MapQuest has had an unexpected run of popularity over the past couple of months. The mapping service's app surged after it declined to label Lake Ontario as "Lake America," unlike Google Maps and Apple Maps. It has also added long-overdue features such as Android Auto support and public transit directions.
The latest addition is a toggleable layer that shows known outdoor surveillance cameras and license plate readers. Most notably, the layer displays the locations of Flock cameras. It also marks cameras from Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, Plate Smart, Ubicquia and Verkada. The layer sits alongside the existing traffic and incident options, making it easy to find in the app.
MapQuest announced the update with a short video set to Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me." The choice of soundtrack suits the feature's theme.
Users may not be able to easily avoid these cameras on their commutes or usual routes. Even so, the layer can show how widespread these devices are in a given area. That makes it useful for residents who want to understand, and potentially push back against, surveillance in their neighborhoods.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing