Ethics of scientific research in the digital environment

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the ethical challenges that arise in scientific research conducted in digital environments. It addresses how established principles of research ethics should be reconsidered in relation to informed consent, privacy, anonymity, data reuse, platform governance, algorithmic mediation, and the fair distribution of research benefits and risks. Method: The study adopts a conceptual and narrative review design. It does not use original empirical data; instead, it analyses verified academic literature, official ethics guidance, and documented cases related to digital research. The review focuses particularly on the Belmont Report, the Association of Internet Researchers guidelines, the British Psychological Society guidelines, the Economic and Social Research Council guidance, and the UK Research Integrity Office guidance. Findings: The review shows that ethical digital research cannot be based only on the technical accessibility of online data or on formal rule compliance. Publicly available digital content may still involve privacy expectations, vulnerability, re-identification risks, and contextual sensitivity. The findings also indicate that artificial intelligence, big data, social media research, online communities, and open data practices require continuous ethical assessment throughout the research lifecycle. Conclusion/Contribution: The study contributes to the field by offering a context-sensitive ethical framework for researchers, ethics committees, publishers, and funding bodies. It emphasizes early ethical planning, transparent documentation, careful risk assessment, respect for participants’ reasonable expectations, and responsible data management in digital research.