The future of research ethics review in the changing research environments

Among the key concerns are research activities that do not involve traditional ‘research participants’ or where there are no established practices or legal obligations to undergo ethics review. A pertinent example is research assembling and analysing large volumes of existing (anonymised) research data, data produced as a by-product of people’s use of technological devices and services, and other categories of non-personal data. The absence of the traditional individual research participant or data subjects, however, does not mean the research activities do not pose ethical challenges or risks.

In addition, a broader variety of players, often in an international setting, is frequently involved in such research activities. These may include universities, corporations, public and private foundations, civil society organisations, online service providers, open exchange and collaboration initiatives and platforms, and other formal and informal associations.

Another important element