ETHICAL CONCERNS OF ONLINE GEOINFORMATION SERVICES

With the new technologies that allow individual internet users the maximum freedom and flexibility to attach their own information to web maps, the developer-centered web map services have evolved into user-centered interactive map services. Thanks to the spatial data-sharing standard of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), some companies such as Google and Yahoo Map have developed easy-to-use mapping platforms for users to add and update information or publish their new map services. In this sense, mapping services have stepped into the everyday life of internet users. However such services can be intentionally or unintentionally misused. Currently, the interactive map services are not yet capable of tracing and controlling the input and behavior of internet users. Ethical problems may occur to the uploaded photos or comments as long as they contain privacy information about the third party. This paper focuses on the interactive map services and the associated ethical problems. Based on cases studies in Munich area, the paper analyzes the contents provided by anonymous internet users. The ethical problems embedded in online spatial information services are categorized and their (potential) seriousness is indicated. Finally, the authors give some suggestions to alleviate the negative influences of ethical problems on users