The Ethical Dilemma of Personal Privacy in GIS Catherine
Kavanagh Wexford County Council
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Page 2 Personal Privacy in GIS Who has information about us?
Internet Usage and Technology Changes Increase in GIS & Effects
on Privacy Data Integration & Geocoding Organisational
Responsibility & Data Protection Legislation
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Page 3 Who has information about us?
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Page 4 Mapping our Location How many times are is our location
and activity captured during the day Receiving or making phone call
Sending or receiving texts CCTV / tolls / travel cards on the way
to work Id card to access the office Flextime system to clock
in/out Online access during the day Using an ATM / laser card /
store card
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Page 5 Questions What information is being stored? What use is
being made of the information? Does it erode our privacy? Can we do
anything about it? Do we want to do anything about it?
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Page 6 Personal Privacy & Ethics The development of
computerised information systems means that privacy is now a matter
of the protection of data about oneself (Curry, M, 1999). Ethics
implies civic responsibility on the part of citizens and
responsibility by societys institutions, including
governments.
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Page 7 Internet Users in Ireland Source
InternetWorldstats.com
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Page 8 PC Ownership & Broadband Access Source
www.census.ie
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Page 9 Disclosure of Personal Data Social Network Site Online
Shopping Aware of data collection conditions Control of Personal
Data Attitudes on Data Protection and Electronic identity in the
European Union, June 2011
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Page 10 Changes in Technology Home Affordable computers
Accessible broadband Social Networking Web apps / Mobile apps
Location Based services Smartphones Work Cost of computing
capability Cheap / OpenSource software Online & Free Training
Web apps / Mobile apps Location Based services Cloud computing
Telematics
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Page 11 Increase in use of GIS Mobile devices - phones,
laptops, ebook readers, digital cameras, and gaming devices -- are
location aware Availability of online mapping sites / Streetview /
orthophotography Location Based Services Positioning Systems - GPS
& IPS Online data capture / Increased availability of data Low
cost of GIS integration / cost of GIS software
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Page 12 GIS & Google Google maps released in 2005 1.1
million websites use Google API to integrate GIS functionality into
their website 40% of Google map usage from mobile phone 200 million
users in 2011 Sources
www.trends.builtwith.comwww.trends.builtwith.com
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Page 13 Location Privacy & Telematics Location privacy
concerns the claim of individuals to determine for themselves when,
how, and to what extent location information about them is
communicated to others (Duckham, M. et al, 2006) Vehicular
Telematics Fleet management, car navigation, car theft tracking,
vehicle diagnostics, speed monitoring Personal Telematics
Protection & safety benefits
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Page 14 Smart Phone Usage Smart phone ownership at 43% in
Ireland in 2012 41% of smart phone users access mapping or travel
apps Information that smartphones collect What services you use and
how you use them What search queries you used IP address, browser
type, language, date and time of your request, unique cookie id to
identify your computer Telephony log information such as phone
number, number called, time and date of call, duration Location
Source Amarach Research
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Page 15 Example - Geotagging
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Page 16 Geotagging
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Page 17 GIS & Data Integration Geographic information is
factual information about land and resources when matched with
other data about individuals may become personal information GIS is
a powerful data integrating technology Adds value to the data Makes
data more relevant for analysis and decision making
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Page 18 Census Information Small Areas Source
www.maps.pobal.ie
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Page 19 Limitations of Data Integration Capacity for
integration of spatial information and personal information from
multiple sources Limitations of geocoding in Ireland 35% approx of
all address are non-unique Varying address structures Different
spellings Two languages Errors in data entry
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Page 20 Geocoding Benefits & Difficulties Benefits
Centralised address database Single view of the customer Improve
data management Improve efficiencies Difficulties Non-unique
address 39% in Wexford Maintain Data Privacy
Page 22 Example 1 - Planning Legislative requirement to
digitise applications and make this data available to the public
Applications back to 1985 are available Viewable online Valued
source of information to public and staff Inherent right of public
to access this information Digitise applications, enforcements,
preplanning, dangerous structures
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Page 23 Example 1 - Planning
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Page 24 Example 2 - Septic Tank Registrations
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Page 25 Example 3 - Rates 5,000 rateable properties 6 months to
digitise Difficulty with database & rural addressing Used local
knowledge 80% success rate Compare with geodirectory Find
businesses not assessed for rates Maintain privacy - Benefit to
customer
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Page 26 Example 3 - Rates
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Page 27 Example 3 - Rates
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Page 28 Example 3 - Rates
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Page 29 Postcodes A privacy issue? Save duplication Improve
efficiency Opportunities Remove urban v rural divide Must have
unique postcodes Overhead of implementing postcodes must have
benefits Integrated with geodirectory
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Page 30 Organisational Responsibility Organisations have a
responsibility to be aware of their legal obligations regarding
data privacy and protection Data Inventory Know where the data is
and who has access to it Identify and prioritise Protection of
personal data People Process Technology
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Page 31 People & Process All staff Application of Data
Protection legislation Awareness of organisational privacy policy
GIS Staff Implications of geocoding and data matching Data
integration must not impinge on personal privacy Process of data
Available to only those entitled to view it
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Page 32 Technology Proactive approach Risk Assessment
Technology changes i.e. cloud computing etc Access policy Implement
data security Firewalls, Password protection, Antivirus protection
& Encryption policies Awareness of non-intentional disclosure
and access
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Page 33 Data Protection Data Protection Acts of 1988 and 2003
provide protection of the right of individuals to data protection
Put responsibility on organisations to protect personal data Need
to be modernised Disclosing personal data is a part of modern life
Impossible to opt out
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Page 34 Data Protection New legislation proposed to provide A
right to be forgotten Explicit consent Single set of data
protection rules across the EU Give individuals more control over
their personal data Standardised regulation to benefit
business
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Page 35 Conclusion Organisational challenge Act within
legislative framework Protect privacy Exploit location data to
improve services and efficiencies while maintaining the privacy of
sensitive data Personal challenge Awareness of new technologies
Protect personal data
