Navigating Ethical and Privacy Frontiers

Abstract

Geospatial data maps people and objects on Earth, predominantly used for applications like emergency management, environmental monitoring, land planning, city planning, and military operations. These applications frequently require collaboration between multiple organizations, their respective data repositories, and users with varying responsibilities. These data can also be used to locate services such as schools and hospitals, develop local transportation and housing, monitor weather and traffic conditions, and design flood defenses. Addressing the ethical and privacy concerns of collecting and analyzing diverse data, particularly geospatial data, requires a delicate balance between individual rights and societal needs.