Identifying Unethical Conduct in the Use of GIS

Abstract

It has been often argued that no technology is value-neutral. One extension of the argument suggests that the power of geographic information system (GIS) technologies should be used for beneficial purposes. GIS should be used to enhance the quality of life, promote equity in access to knowledge for all members of society, reduce socio-economic gaps between members of the social system (or at least should not widen them), and for other “good purposes.” The limitations of such reasoning and goals become evident when one attempts to apply such principles in everyday practice. Numerous gray areas exist in the use of GIS. Determining what constitutes a beneficial versus a detrimental consequence is a value-laden judgment. In many instances, what constitutes “fair, just, and equitable” conduct and results is not obvious. Often, it will depend on the perspectives of those affected by use of the information system. This paper distinguishes illegal from unethical conduct and presents a method for gauging whether, and to what extent, conduct in the use of GIS will be considered unethical by those affected by its use.

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