Social Media Location Intelligence: The Next Privacy Battle - An ArcGIS add-in and Analysis of Geospatial Data Collected from Twitter.com

Abstract

While GIScience professionals are spatially aware and literate to geospatial terminology and options of use, the majority of the general public is not conscious of the location intelligence they disclose when using social media outlets. This article outlines the integration of a unique technical application with GIScience and the subsequent effect location-based data can have on one’s personal privacy, security, and web-presence. A innovative new ArcGIS add-in is introduced that captures location data from Twitter, harvests ambient location information, analyzes the captured data to provide personal location intelligence, and visualizes possible areas of interest. In addition, the article examines the results and trends discovered through use of this add-in and how these same techniques can be applied to other social media outlets and analytical intents. Finally this article discusses potential opportunities to educate and inform the general public more about their social media location privacy.