Onsrud, H.J., Identifying Unethical Conduct in the Use of GIS, Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, 1995, 22(1), 90-97

Identifying Unethical Conduct in the Use of GIS

Harlan J. Onsrud

National Center for Geographic Information Analysis (NCGIA)

University of Maine

Orono, Maine 04469

It often has been argued that no technology is value-neutral. Therefore, 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 not widen them), and other "good purposes." The limitations of such reasoning and goals become readily evident when one attempts to apply such principles in everyday practice. Numerous gray areas exist in the use of GIS and determining what constitutes a beneficial versus a detrimental consequence is a value laden judgment. In many instances, "fair, just, and equitable" conduct and results are not obvious. They often depend on the perspectives of those affected by use of the information system.

This paper begins by distinguishing illegal conduct from unethical conduct. It then presents a method for gauging whether conduct in the use of GIS will be considered unethical by those affected by its use and to what extent.

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