Business Insider reported that MapQuest unveiled a feature on Thursday that lets drivers turn on a "surveillance layer" in its mobile app. The layer marks known automated license plate readers along a route. AOL reported the same feature and the same announcement, and the two accounts agree on the basic facts below.
Which cameras does the layer show?
MapQuest's BlueSky post lists the devices it says the layer can identify:
- Flock Safety
- Motorola Solutions (Vigilant)
- Genetec
- Axis Communications
- Axon
- Leonardo (ELSAG)
- Neology
- Rekor
- PlateSmart
- Ubicquia
- Verkada
The post also mentions other outdoor surveillance cameras. Neither outlet says how complete the list is.
How do plate readers work?
Plate readers capture images of vehicles. They then use machine learning to turn details such as plate numbers, make, color and model into searchable data. They are commonly found at intersections, parking lots, roadways, highways, neighborhood entrances, businesses and private properties. How plate readers work covers the basics.
What changes for drivers?
The layer shows where known cameras are. Neither outlet says the feature turns any camera off or changes what it records.
Business Insider reports that Tempe, Arizona, said in August it shut down its Flock Safety camera network and planned to terminate its contract. Both outlets say other towns followed suit, but neither names them. Neither outlet says what the layer means for cameras run by neighboring cities, counties, the state, businesses or HOAs.
What is still unknown?
MapQuest did not say how many cameras the layer includes, how often the list is updated, or where it gets its camera locations. Neither outlet reports those details.
Flock says its plate readers do not use facial recognition and that customers control access to and sharing of the data. Business Insider reports that Flock has cut data retention from 30 days to 7 days.
Doug Berger, MapQuest's general manager, told Business Insider that drivers prompted the feature. He said "showing surveillance camera locations is one of our users' top three requests." Both outlets report that critics say the cameras raise privacy concerns and that the data can be shared with federal immigration officials.
Neither article gives a date for the next MapQuest change. Until then, the camera map shows cameras FlockDetour has mapped, and you can add one you find.