Map data is shockingly easy to fake, from ‘Pokémon Go’ to satellite images

Bo Zhao is a researcher focused on geographic information systems, and he studies the ways that people use their locations to lie, from fake Twitter geotags to cheating at Pokemon Go. This geo-spoofing, as Zhao and others call it, can seem like harmless fun. But with the world’s increasing reliance on precise geospatial information for everything from food deliveries to autonomous vehicles' navigation systems, geo-spoofing could be deeply problematic, and even dangerous. In a recent paper, Zhao explores the potential—and the very real threat—of people using artificial intelligence to create convincing but fabricated satellite imagery. There are all kinds of ways this could go incredibly wrong, Zhao argues. A new set of ethics in the mapping world could help prevent our geospatial data from being used against us. Read my story here. — Nate Berg   Map data is shockingly easy to fake, from ‘Pokémon Go’ to satellite images It’s time for new mapping ethics.   READ MORE   Pentagram rebrands voting for the 21st century NYC Votes builds a design system as unique as New York itself.   READ MORE   See where your old Ikea furniture goes to die A new ad features broken and discarded Ikea furniture with a twist—the company wants to repair and refurbish it.   READ MORE   How to dramatically lower city temperatures If done right, light-colored, reflective pavement can cool urban areas.   READ MORE

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