Assignment: OPTIONAL. Data and Directions

This is an OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT. You can use this assignment to replace a missing or low
quiz score. Please note: The data for this assignment raises ethical questions on the use of
GIS for dataveillance.
Objective:
You have been asked to examine the geospatial data of the Ashley Madison1
hacked
database and determine the extent that .gov domains2
were used to access the site and
what .gov domains were used. You will create a map of the data points and answer some
questions about the data. Follow the directions for creating the map and then answer the
analysis questions.
1. Download the AMDBGov.csv file from Blackboard. Make sure the file is located on your
desktop.
2. Go to Google My Maps http://www.google.com/mymaps
3. Log in with your Google credentials.
4. Click on Create New Map
5. Click on Import.
6. Choose upload and select the CSV file from your desktop.
7. Choose the latitude and longitude columns to position placement.
8. Choose a column to title your markers. Use the SERVER label.
9. Note the points placed on the map.
10. Select the Uniform Style on the upper left hand side of your screen.
11. Select the arrow in the Set Labels box
12. Set the label to Server
13. Select the arrow in the Uniform style box.
14. Set server
15. Your points are now color coded, and you also can see counts of the servers used to
access the Ashley Madison website.
16. Experiment with choosing different base maps, for example, satellite imagery.
17. When you are ready to submit your map link, click on share
18. Give your map the title YOURLASTNAME_EC
19. Click OK
20. Turn on Enable Link Sharing on
21. Copy the link and submit it to Blackboard to the appropriate location.

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Madison_data_breach
2
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control
within the Internet. Any name registered in the DNS is a domain name.
CRJ 255 Optional Assignment: Creating a Map with Google Maps.
22. Answer the following questions:
a. In general, do you believe it is ethical to use GIS technology for the purpose of
tracking who visited a particular website? Explain your reasoning.
b. Does the fact that we are examining the use of government domains to access
an ethically questionable website change your mind about the ethics of using GIS
technology to track web site visitors? Explain