Spying with Maps: Surveillance Technologies and the Future of Privacy

by Mark Monmonier

Maps, as we know, help us find our way around. But they're also powerful tools for someone hoping to find you . Widely available in electronic and paper formats, maps offer revealing insights into our movements and activities, even our likes and dislikes. In Spying with Maps , the "mapmatician" Mark Monmonier looks at the increased use of geographic data, satellite imagery, and location tracking across a wide range of fields such as military intelligence, law enforcement, market research, and traffic engineering. Could these diverse forms of geographic monitoring, he asks, lead to grave consequences for society? To assess this very real threat, he explains how geospatial technology works, what it can reveal, who uses it, and to what effect.

Despite our apprehension about surveillance technology, Spying with Maps is not a jeremiad, crammed with dire warnings about eyes in the sky and invasive tracking. Monmonier's approach encompasses both skepticism and the acknowledgment that geospatial technology brings with it unprecedented benefits to governments, institutions, and individuals, especially in an era of asymmetric warfare and bioterrorism. Monmonier frames his explanations of what this new technology is and how it works with the question of whether locational privacy is a fundamental right. Does the right to be left alone include not letting Big Brother (or a legion of Little Brothers) know where we are or where we've been? What sacrifices must we make for homeland security and open government?

With his usual wit and clarity, Monmonier offers readers an engaging, even-handed introduction to the dark side of the new technology that surrounds us—from traffic cameras and weather satellites to personal GPS devices and wireless communications.

Genres: Geography, Nonfiction, Technology

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Mark Stephen Monmonier is an American author and a Distinguished Professor of Geography at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

He specializes in toponymy, geography, and geographic information systems. His popular written works show a combination of serious study and a sense of humor. His most famous work is How To Lie With Maps (1991), in which he challenges the common belief that maps inherently show an unbiased truth.

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book loaded with information regarding the technological uses or abuses of surveillance.

Satellite imaging that covers every inch of the earth’s surface, GPS tracking, traffic cameras on every street corner, Geo-coding & data surveillance, lead one to believe that with the erosion of constitutional protections of privacy (4th Amendment) the world is quick becoming a statistically quantifiable or technologically controllable bureaucratic police state or corporate sponsored consumer paradise (depending on which angle you look at the situation from, I suppose).

Published by The University of Chicago, Monmonier’s account is more scholarship rather than "sensationalism".

He is not offering by his own admission a “Luddite rant” or Orwellian conspiracy.

However, he does admit that that is not necessarily unjustified provided the present situation, albeit some of the uses of the technologies described have un-debatable benefits, from agriculture, to managing traffic, to (of course) national security.

Still, the problem of privacy arises when an increasing amount of information is exposed, collected, or used for ends not specified or sanctioned by the individuals concerned.

Defense Department operations have used satellite camera maps for some time. In particular, Monmonier traces the deployment of the KH camera system (Keyhole). KH-1 started in the 1950’s, which went through various phases (KH-2, KH-3, KH-4) in the 60's each used by the CIA or Defense Department for spying or missile defense.

In 1995 “Corona” imagery was de-classified by Clinton for scientific or historical ends. Specifically, the fourth generation of imaging from the 70's was revealed (KH-8, KH-9) or “Big Bird” for short.

“Big Bird” soon was replaced by ever more precise digital imaging from space with greater analytic potential. Supposedly, the purpose is still constrained to defense or research with State agencies from NASA to the NSA.

Logically the consequences follow that the government is probably now possessed with an enormous new information technology.

Whether CCTV or biometrics or data-collection is added to the mix, controversial areas start to arise where potential abuses include pre-emptive crime prevention, massive social-engineering projects, controlling political opinion, or manipulating market patterns. Challenges faced with regard to privacy or human dignity appear daunting.

The book is full of useful or interesting information. One point of particular interest is the mapping of zip codes into social categories that can then be analyzed, manipulated, or controlled based on demographics, behavioral conditioning, or psychological profiling.

For example, PRIZM can locate the amount of (8) Mover and Shakers, (1) Upper Crust, (24) City Ties, (46) Difficult Times, or (45) Struggling Metro Mix, in lower income zip codes.

Wealthy zip codes reflect (7) Money & Brains, (8) Young Literati, (1) Blue Blood Estates, (2) Winner’s Circle.

60 categories or so exist to this effect.

I have to wonder what I am on file for personally (either in the public or private domain) or whether I will win the "sweepstakes".

Apparently, PRIZM competes with ACORN or MicroVision or other classified projects that remain off the publick record.

When read in conjunction with other books on the subject, dis-heartened visions emerge of post-human existence, bereft of freedom, privacy, individual autonomy, or an oasis beyond the technocratic-consumer State.

[Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A technical historical survey of the use of technology by governments to spy on each other and their citizens through remote sensing and dataveillance. The author jumps between being a privacy advocate and not, mocking Orwell's predictions, and turning to promote them later. Would read him again though, his research is thorough and enlightening.

[Coleman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off better than it ended. I felt like the same points were being reiterated over and over, not to mention that there are whole sections that aren't as "privacy-oriented" as the title indicates. It was informative, but because so much of this technology changes on a daily basis, the content of the book is becoming sort of outdated (originally published in '02).

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good one, especially if you weren't already worried about all the ways "the man" can access info. about you.

Good reference if you are ever looking for a resource on electronic technologies. Could write something really original, maybe futuristic (if you use your imagination) on the process of selecting people throughout the world using technology.