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MapQuest’s new tool can help you avoid Flock cameras
Confirmed
In Short: MapQuest, a once-forgotten navigation app, has introduced a new Surveillance Layer to help users avoid surveillance cameras and license plate readers, particularly those from Flock Safety.
The Surveillance Layer, announced on Bluesky, identifies the locations of known outdoor surveillance cameras and plate readers from various companies including Motorola Solutions, Genetec, and Axon.
According to Gizmodo, MapQuest may be sourcing its data from DeFlock and the OpenStreetMap project, which maintains a user-submitted map of ALPR camera locations.
The new feature comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of surveillance technology by law enforcement and city governments.
MapQuest's decision to introduce the Surveillance Layer follows its previous act of resistance against the Trump administration's decision to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America', a move that contrasted with Google and Apple's compliance.
The Surveillance Layer is available in the MapQuest app and can be activated with a toggle, similar to how the app turns on overlays for traffic and reported road incidents.
MapQuest saw a surge in popularity and downloads following its resistance against the 'Lake America' decision, spiking to the top spot in the Apple App Store.
Flock's CEO has defended the company's partnerships with law enforcement, stating that only a small number of bad actors have abused its technology.
However, Flock partners have faced multiple accusations of misusing the surveillance system to stalk, harass, and profile individuals.
A nationwide backlash against ALPRs has resulted in intense scrutiny on Flock, including a recent Senate inquiry.
MapQuest's new feature aims to provide users with more control over their privacy and exposure to surveillance technology.
MapQuest's Surveillance Layer is available in the app and can be toggled on to display surveillance camera locations.
The company did not specify how it sources its data, but it appears to be similar to the data amassed by DeFlock and OpenStreetMap contributors.
What's confirmed
- Per MapQuest, its new tool will identify the locations of known outdoor surveillance cameras and plate readers from Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia, Verkada, and others.
What's still developing
- MapQuest was great at helping us getting around… 20 years ago, before Google Maps arrived, anyway.
- Between concerns of police misuse and incorrectly targeting the wrong drivers, Flock is showing up on a lot of people’s naughty list.
- Is life in 2026 feeling sufficiently dystopian for you?
- Surveillance cameras in public have been ubiquitous since early this century, but recently those equipped with automated license plate recognition (ALPR), like popular models from Flock, have been finding themselves in the news.
- While the likes of Apple Maps and Google Maps obsequiously complied, MapQuest isn’t playing with that kind of nonsense.
- But from all that horrible mess, one savior has emerged to offer a beacon of hope — just who would have ever thought it would be MapQuest?
- If that already resonated with you, MapQuest is following it up with another move we think you’ll like.
- If you’d rather have as little of that in your life as possible, MapQuest has you covered, announcing a new Surveillance Layer for its maps over on Bluesky: Granted, once you see just how many cameras are out there (and let’s try not to think about how many might have escaped MapQuest’s attention), perhaps avoiding them isn’t really an option.
- MapQuest is continuing its push to become the official map and navigation platform of the resistance.
- A Reddit thread suggests Meta's smart glasses have been capturing conversations that don't contain the "Hey Meta" wake phrase.
- Gizmodo has reached out to MapQuest for additional information and will update when we hear back.
- “Going to the doctor. Flock knows. Dropping your kid off at school. Flock is tracking you."