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Navigating ethical challenges in online wildlife trade research

Morcatty, Thais Q., Su, Shan, Siriwat, Penthai, Andersson, Astrid Alex, Atoussi, Sadek, Feddema, Kim, Henriques, Sergio, Janssen, Jordi, Karve, Anushri, Pytka, Jennifer, and others. (2024) Navigating ethical challenges in online wildlife trade research. Conservation Biology, 38 (5). Article Number e14341. ISSN 0888-8892. E-ISSN 1523-1739. (doi:10.1111/cobi.14341) (KAR id:107171)

Abstract

The surge in internet accessibility has transformed wildlife trade by facilitating the acquisition of wildlife through online platforms. This scenario presents unique ethical challenges for researchers, as traditional ethical frameworks for in‐person research cannot be readily applied to the online realm. Currently, there is a lack of clearly defined guidelines for appropriate ethical procedures when conducting online wildlife trade (OWT) research. In response to this, we consulted the scientific literature on ethical considerations in online research and examined existing guidelines established by professional societies and ethical boards. Based on these documents, we present a set of recommendations that can inform the development of ethically responsible OWT research. Key ethical challenges in designing and executing OWT research include the violation of privacy rights, defining subjects and illegality, and the risk of misinterpretation or posing risks to participants when sharing data. Potential solutions include considering participants’ expectations of privacy, defining when participants are authors versus subjects, understanding the legal and cultural context, minimizing data collection, ensuring anonymization, and removing metadata. Best practices also involve being culturally sensitive when analyzing and reporting findings. Adhering to these guidelines can help mitigate potential pitfalls and provides valuable insights to editors, researchers, and ethical review boards, enabling them to conduct scientifically rigorous and ethically responsible OWT research to advance this growing field.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/cobi.14341
Uncontrolled keywords: internet, consentimiento informado, comercio electrónico, MIF, ética, informed consent, privacy, wildlife trafficking, social media, e‐commerce, tráfico de fauna, redes sociales, ethics, privacidad, IWT
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 11 Sep 2024 14:44 UTC
Last Modified: 02 Oct 2024 14:57 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/107171 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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