Ethics of Web Mapping

4/23/2017

Written by Erin Miller

In the age of ever expanding Internet use, data collection (open source or private) and subsequent map visualizations via Internet mapping technologies, such as Google, the concept of ethics in web mapping applications becomes vitally important in protecting the integrity of online cartography. A good starting point for this discussion is the Code of Ethics provided by the GIS Certification Institute (1). This document describes some basic ethical guidelines to consider as a GIS professional. The most important of which is the understanding of how our map products may directly impact society and individuals. Large scale Internet use allows maps and data to spread like wildfire across the entire world in a matter of seconds. A poorly designed online map, or one that intentionally or unintentionally leaves out data, made public can have unintended consequences if misinterpreted or misused.

A new dilemma arises from the proliferation of online mapping platforms, especially open source, where cartographic novices can add to the wealth of information on the web. OpenStreetMap allowed anyone in the world to add their local spatial information. The ethical question involved with this is who is responsible for the resulting map product (2)? How is the map going to be used? What are the motivations of the users adding (or subtracting) data to these open source maps?

A final consideration in the use of interactive web mapping is the addition of non-spatial data to online maps. When using Google Earth or Google Maps online users can input photos and comments directly into their maps. The ethical concern with this deals with copyright protection and the quality of the comments being added as information to the maps (3). Another concern involves the identification information displayed in Street View within Google Earth. An unsuspecting person photographed as the Google team drives by is now identified and their privacy unprotected. As useful and convenient as Google Maps and Google Earth is, are we unintentionally giving up some of our basic rights as a society? How much information is too much information?

My own thoughts on the subject deal mostly with the implications of online mapping on societies and how the information presented in online maps can be grossly misused by corporations, governments, and others. Once we publish a map online we don’t really have much control in how it is interpreted by other users of the map (or subsequently manipulated for other purposes). If at some point we end up working for a corporation that utilizes online web mapping technologies, are we providing skewed visualizations that favor a particular viewpoint. I feel as future GIS professionals we have an obligation to really consider and think about our online maps (or any GIS product for that matter) and maintain as much professional integrity in our final products as we can.

4 Comments

Sam Moore

5/3/2017 08:21:10 am

Much to reflect upon. Encourages mindfulness!

eddie

5/28/2017 02:25:43 pm

I guess it's the sort of curse / blessing of the internet that information can be spread instantly all over the planet and anyone can do anything with it. And it can be reproduced infinitely.

This is really a very new thing and I think it's going to take a while to get used to it. Since when can an autocratic, insane political figure cause widespread panic by waking up at 3am and madly texting about something he saw on TV? Since when can someone's reputation be destroyed by a random person endlessly posting missives about them for a few hours?

Honestly I don't think there will be any controls on how info is used / misused, maps included. Anonymous people can't be held accountable.

What I think will happen is, attribution will get more and more important. As in wikipedia, one can follow a link to access attributions. Maybe digital watermarks will get encoded in websites and maps, once can attest to the authenticity of a piece of information by checking the watermark or the code, and data that isn't vouched for will be regarded as "fake news".

But til something like that happens, it's probably going to be the most convincing maps, etc. that people will accept as "true".

David K

6/11/2017 11:54:58 am

A very important issue with any medium, but especially when presenting scientific or surveyed data that can have an influence on an individual or group. It is nearly impossible to be completely un-biased when deciding what and how to present information. And so many topics are are open to interpretation, with no clear right or wrong.

The idea of corporate and government influence on the presentation of information and intended conclusions from it, is a hard beast to slay. Within many professions, one is limited to what others are willing to invest in. Almost all projects require funding, and while that funding makes the research and collaboration possible, it usually comes with strings attached. This causes an internal conflict between morals, value, and security. This is one reason why I agree that personal perspectives, and those of a society, do need to be discussed and debated regularly, both privately and in organized forums.

Thanks for the post and links!

Heye

7/1/2017 10:04:28 pm

I’ve wondered about a Code of Ethics for Web Mapping, especially now I’ve learned in 244 how anyone can make a map. We are continuously experiencing hacking incidences and misinformation to the point it could spread heavily into online maps for malicious intent. One comes to mind are the hackers who shut down a restaurant in Washington DC for serving exotic meats by infiltrating Google maps redirecting their customers.

Another example of misuse I found years ago had to do with the earthquake energy waves traveling through The Pacific during the Japan Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011. NOAA had published a map of the release of energy, which was fascinating! However, an internet website took the map and falsified a story saying the map is a representation of the amount of radiation released by the damaged reactor plant. The hysteria was spread by social media. The result to the website was just a hand slap.

It begs the question if laws (or what laws) should be crafted to discourage this type of misuse?

Ethics of Web Mapping

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