Why does geoprivacy matter? The scientific publication of confidential data presented on maps

Abstract

We examined published maps containing sensitive data, and the protection methods, if any, that were used. We investigated whether the many published warnings about disclosure risk have been effective in reducing privacy risk. During an 8-year period (2005-2012), 19 journals related to GIScience, geography, spatial crime analysis, and health geography were examined. We identified 41 articles that display actual confidential information and 16 articles where confidential information is protected by the use of a geographical mask. During the investigated time frame, the numbers of articles with unmasked confidential data increased, and in total more than 68,000 home addresses were disclosed. One of the more significant findings of this study is that efforts to instill sensitivity to location privacy and disclosure risk have been relatively unsuccessful.

Keywords: confidentiality; disclosure analysis; geographical masks; location privacy.