Dashcam company BlackVue is broadcasting real-time video feeds of its users' cameras to all app users around the world, in a potentially concerning privacy issue.First reported by Australia's Nine News, BlackVue's official app includes a world map showing the location of many of its dashcams, which users can tap to watch real-time footage. A red ring around a BlackVue logo on the map indicates that a dashcam is openly viewable to the public, while those without a red ring indicate a vehicle's location without footage. These appear to be from users who have opted in to sharing their location, but not their live feed.Mashable downloaded the BlackVue app and was able to view real-time footage from people's dashcams in countries across the world, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia. These cameras are pinpointed on the in-app world map, down to the exact street the vehicle is located on and how fast it's travelling. It also includes audio, allowing strangers to listen in on any conversations happening during the drive.
The BlackVue app shows footage from parked vehicles as well, marked with a blue P on the map. BlackVue's Parking Mode keeps its dashcams running 24/7 off the car's battery or an external power source, even when the vehicle isn't in use.Anyone who downloads the app and makes an account can view these livestreams, even if they don't have a BlackVue dashcam themselves. Free accounts are limited to 10 minutes of live viewing per day, though buying BlackVue's paid Smart subscription unlocks unlimited time.
