Brief
MapQuest adds surveillance layer to help users avoid Flock cameras
The navigation app now displays locations of Flock cameras, license‑plate readers and other public surveillance devices.
By Felo News Desk · Published
MapQuest rolled out a new Surveillance Layer to its mobile app on October 15, 2026, allowing users to see nearby Flock cameras and other automated license‑plate readers (ALPRs), according to Mashable.
What happened
The feature, released yesterday, overlays location data for roughly a dozen surveillance companies, including Flock, Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia and Verkada. The data is drawn from OpenStreetMap contributors, the open‑source mapping database.
What the reports add
Mashable notes that crowdsourced maps of Flock cameras have grown in popularity over the past year as communities push back against the "public security" firm. It also mentions a recent Senate inquiry into ALPR use and that Flock’s CEO has defended the company’s law‑enforcement partnerships, saying only a small number of bad actors have misused its technology.
What was said
Chase DiBenedetto, Mashable’s Social Good reporter, wrote that MapQuest’s terms state the surveillance data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors. The article does not include direct quotes from MapQuest or Flock representatives.
How it came about
MapQuest, once eclipsed by Google Maps, is seeking new users by taking a hard line against surveillance. The rollout follows a surge in user sign‑ups in September after the company announced it would not comply with a request from former President Donald Trump to share location data.
Key facts
- MapQuest released a Surveillance Layer on October 15, 2026. (mashable.com)
- The layer includes data for about a dozen surveillance companies, including Flock. (mashable.com)
- Location data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors. (mashable.com)
- Crowdsourced Flock maps have risen in popularity over the last year. (mashable.com)
- MapQuest saw an influx of new users in September 2026 after refusing a data request from former President Donald Trump. (mashable.com)
Sources
- [1] mashable.com — originally reported as “How to track Flock cameras using MapQuest”
