{
  "id": 15032130,
  "title": "MapQuest lets you track Flock cameras",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/mapquest-lets-you-track-flock-cameras",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-16T19:52:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mashable",
    "slug": "mashable",
    "url": "https://mashable.com/tech/mapquest-fusers-can-find-nearby-flock-cameras"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MapQuest, the navigation software that debuted in 1996 and later struggled to compete with Google Maps, has introduced a new feature to help users track nearby Flock cameras and other surveillance systems. This feature, called the Surveillance Layer, was released yesterday in the mobile app and includes location data for automatic license plate readers (APLRs) and multiple types of public cameras from around a dozen companies.\n\nThe Surveillance Layer pulls data from the Open Street Map contributors, an open source, community-created mapping database. Open Street Map is a collaborative effort where volunteers contribute and maintain maps. The feature is receiving attention as communities are increasingly looking to combat the public security company, Flock. The backlash against Flock has grown significantly over the past year, leading to intense scrutiny, including a recent Senate inquiry.\n\nMapQuest users can now see nearby Flock cameras and other surveillance systems as part of their navigation experience. According to MapQuest, the data for the Surveillance Layer is sourced from Open Street Map contributors, ensuring transparency and community involvement. The platform's CEO has strongly defended Flock's partnerships with law enforcement and city governments, asserting that only a small number of bad actors have abused the technology.\n\nThe introduction of the Surveillance Layer comes after a nationwide backlash against ALPRs, automatic license plate readers, and Flock's technology. Flock has faced multiple accusations of misusing its surveillance system to stalk, harass, and profile individuals. MapQuest saw a surge in new users in September following the website's decision not to honor President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to \"Lake America.\" The platform also introduced a customizable map feature for renaming geographical areas, including the Gulf of Mexico, in response to the Trump administration's move to rename it to \"Gulf of America.\"",
  "summary": "MapQuest adds new surveillance layer, documenting locations of surveillance cameras in your area.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}