Geospatial Information Services: Balancing Privacy and Innovation

Geospatial Information (GSI) services are a new kind of technological platform that combine accurate mapping services with real-time user location and context data. GSI can power everything from navigation to social and political engagement. Although many GSI services are already in use, little attention has been paid to the implications of the technology and the privacy concerns that it raises. Restrictive regulation could kill the budding GSI industry in its early stages, but some initial steps should be taken to protect GSI users. This Paper defines GSI, identifies the aspects of the technology that contribute to its innovation potential and privacy risks, and surveys possible regulatory approaches. Finally, it recommends a combination of technological anonymity, data retention limits, and user access as a flexible first step toward industry regulation.