Ethics of online research

In this chapter we pose the question: If it is not possible to have a set of ethical rules that can deal with all situations; how then as researchers do we uphold the essence of our ethical principles when conducting research in and on the online world? We set out to answer this question by structuring our response around three universal principles that underpin the notion of ‘do no harm’ with respect to how we go about conduct ethical research:
• Respect for the autonomy, privacy and dignity of individuals and communities;
• Scientific integrity;
• Maximising benefits and minimising harm
We share examples of good and bad practice and conclude that how the principles are applied and how unexpected happenings are dealt with will rely on the researchers’ and ethics committees’ ability to act carefully with due diligence with the information they have at that time.