The key ethical concerns for this case were; receiving consent from participants, ensuring participant and researcher privacy, and protecting the physical and/or emotional harm to research and participants.

As such, this study can be categorised as a ‘high-risk’ ethics concern because the nature of content is extremely likely to cause immediate and sustained harm to both researcher and participant wellbeing and personal safety. For example, risks can involve cyberbullying, doxing, blackmailing, and data leaking. These can be mitigated by ensuring anonymous research practises when interviewing participants and storing research data.

In our study we would focus on four groups:

1. Organisers of the protests. They can be involved in both an informal and formal sense. For example, formal involvement includes, creating flyers and promoting the protest through social media. Alternatively, information involvement includes, spontaneous engagement with the protest.

2. Individual involved in doxing and those that have been doxxed.

3. Government employees who either mediate or oversee protest action.

4. Journalists and media outlets involved in covering the protest.

The purpose of including these group would be to gain a wholistic understanding of how and why the protest occurs. As well as, understanding their individual objectives, for example, activism, ensuring respect for authority, and media coverage.

The risks associated with including our focus groups are protecting their identities and research contribution from blackmailing and doxing. While the benefits of their participation include, understanding how to better manage protester safety, and data protection against doxing.

Finally, we would include follow-up mechanisms that monitor participant anonymity and well-being for up to a year after the study is conducted.

A support service is ‘Head to health’ which are Medicare-supported mental health centres. The program includes free and confidential mental health support centres, online resources and a national phone line.

Another support service is the eSafety Commission. It provides tailored training sessions, presentations, and webinars for organisations and community groups. These resources are designed to improve their online safety knowledge and provide confidential counselling for cyberbullying and mental health support.

If a participant became distressed during an interview, we could firstly, refer them to either support service depending on their concern and secondly, incorporate mental health professionals in the research team.

This study explores how digital activism and doxing occur during Hong Kong political dynamics and protest movements. Dr Li describes how doxing, the release of personal information without consent, is used by both protesters and governments as a form of weaponisation. Within the study, mixed methods such as surveys, interviews and social media data analysis were used to understand a variety of emotions, power relations and the ethical implications. The research discuses significant ethical concerns regarding privacy, consent, and harm to participants, especially where politically sensitive data is involved. Ensuring strict confidentially, data security, and safety to participants is vital. This would require a high risk ethics application because of the content discussed on researching and interviewing those protesting in sensitive political topics can pose potential psychological and legal threats as well as safety risks to all those who are involved. Risks to consider include personal safety to both the interviewer and interviewee and possibility of state surveillance due to engagement with politically sensitive topics. Further risks can include emotional distress from exposure and experience from violence or repression and doxing. To mitigate these, protecting identities through anonymised data intake would be significant as to limit potential blackmail and doxing, and to create a safe and secure environment where they feel free to speak about own experiences without the fear of being doxed or blackmailed.

I believe important ethical concerns for this study would be about the confidentiality of the participants, and ensuring that the participants are fully aware of the purpose of the research and any associated risked of disclosure.

Outline of research:

The goal of the research is to analysis the role of data weaponisation in political activism through the form of doxing. The research aims to better understand the power relations between citizens and government and the impact of doxing on individual empowerment in the face of civil unrest.

Participant role:

Participation would involve answering questions anonymously about the role they have personally seen doxing have on the development of activist groups and the impact that has had on their individual empowerment in a larger context, as well as their perception of the impact of their activism.

Benefits/Risks of Research:

The benefits of this research would be a more in depth understanding of the value of data weaponisation for the individual in large scale activism, as well as better acknowledgement of doxing as a activist tool in asserting demands.

Risks of this research involve the legality of the topic, as well as potentially harmful consequences for the individual sound their answers about their involvement with doxing be released to the government. To mitigate this, clear consent must be given from the participants and secure storage of collected data to avoid unethical reporting of information.

For psychological support for distressed participants,

The Red Cross provides psychological support specifically for those who are coping with the consequences of experiencing civil unrest and can provide counselling for participants if needed.

Another service is Mind HK that provides free online one-on-one support for Hong Kong residents aged 18-65

This study aims to explore the reasoning and effects of doxing in the context of the recent Hong Kong Protest, where doxing is the action of gathering and releasing private information of another individual online without their consent, usually with bad intent. This study involves some key ethical considerations including: potential mental and physical harm to both the participants and interviewees/researchers, fully informed consent from participants, data privacy/convidentiality/security, potential release/leak of private information of participants and those who were subject to the doxing, any legal harm, political tension and/or social unrest as a result of the publication of the study and from leakage of information if it occurs. It is also important to consider where the boundary lies when it comes to doxing of innocent civilians.

This study is classified as HIGH risk for several reasons. Firstly, if any private information of participants is released, they may feel emotionally distressed and could be at the risk of retaliation and harm from those with opposing opinions on the matter of doxing and/or the political unrest on a bigger scope. This can be mitigated in several ways, including secured data collection and anonymising information of participants at the interview and data analysis stage. 

Secondly, participants may be emotionally stressed at the stage of data collection through interviews and/or surveys due to the recollection of any trauma or other forms of mental and/or physical harm. This can be mitigated by fully informing all participants of the research study including any sensitive content that would be discussed. Further, researchers should have precautionary measures available before the study begins such as support services, and a set of protocols for what to do if participants are triggered by certain questions during the study. 

Thirdly, researchers of this study may also be at risk of harassment/mental & physical harm, exposure to harmful and distressing content, as well as potential legal and ethical challenges. Risks as such can be mitigated by thoroughly planning out all risks and mitigation measures before commencing research, providing participants with detailed consent forms, constant monitoring of risks and harms for all stakeholders during the research process and pausing the research at any point if needed, etc. 

Fourthly, this study may involve politically sensitive information, or disclose illegal activities/criminal behaviour of participants and/or other individuals. Risks can be mitigated by considering before study begins the research team’s obligation and stance on any criminal activities in relation to doxing. This decision should be reflected in the consent forms given to participants, the research questions asked to participants, and the specific risk mitigation plan set out by the team. 

You are invited…

This is a study being conducted by Dr Li and his team and it is a follow-up of research conducted by Dr Yao-Tai Li about the use of doxing during Hong Kong’s 2019 social unrest, and the evolution of Hong Kong protesters’ doxing strategies during this time.

What is the purpose of this study? 

This research aims to understand the implications of doxing for the doxers, individuals subjected to doxing, as well as the general public. This follow-up study also aims to build on the previous study and explore further the various intentions of doxers such as degrading the legitimacy of authorities or on the contrary - to protect policemen, and to better understand the bigger framework around digital activism. The researchers hope to uncover the complex repercussions of doxing on various stakeholders, and to highlight the importance of increased education and awareness in relation to online activism for the better of all members of society. 

Why have you been invited to be in this study? What are your roles?

You are either a police officer or protester who has been involved with or affected by doxing during the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-ELAB Movement. Your involvement is completely voluntary, and there is no penalty or consequence for non-participation at any time during the research. Your participation will involve firstly filling out a survey of scale-questions rating your various experiences with doxing during and after its occurrence. You will then attend interviews where a series of open-ended questions will be asked by the research team. All answers will be anonymised at the data analysis and publication stages. The research team may ask you for follow-up information and you may wish to participate or not. 

What are some risks involved?

There are some risks that you should be aware of before participating in this study. Some key risks involve mental distress which you may feel at any stage during the study, especially in relation to the effects of doxing. Support services are available if needed, and you may wish to withdraw from or pause your participation in the study at any time. There are also risks surrounding privacy of your data and information, however, the research team has a comprehensive plan to ensure your physical, mental, and data safety. Further information can be found in the consent form. 

What are some benefits of participating?

Your contribution to this study will help the research team better understand and analyse the complex causes and effects of doxing. Further, the results of the study will fill research gaps in the field of digital activism which will benefit members of society. This study is also a chance for you to voice your opinions, emotions, and experiences in relation to doxing in a way that also helps to advance research and academia.

Below are some free support services you may wish to access at any time during the study if you feel the need to. If at any time during the study you require further explanation of how your information and answers will be used, do not hesitate to contact the research team. You may also wish to withdraw from or pause your participation in the study at any time without any consequences. 

The Samaritans - 2896 0000 (24-hr, multilingual mental health support and suicide prevention service based in Hong Kong; available services include hotline, suicide crisis intervention centre, and life education centre). 

Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 or https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/talk-to-a-counsellor

(24-hr, mental health support service based in Australia; available services include hotline and online chat with counsellor; users may choose to remain anonymous/confidential; translation and interpretation services also available upon request). 

If you or those around you are in immediate danger, call 999 (if located in Hong Kong) or 110 (if located in mainland China) or 000 (if located in Australia).

Research with protest participants involves heightened risks of identification, legal repercussions, retaliation, and psychological distress. It requires robust informed consent, strict confidentiality, data-security, and a clear right to withdraw.
Researchers must minimise harm by avoiding collection of incriminating details, using safe storage, and offering support referrals.

This study has high risk level ,the topic is politically sensitive, disclosure could cause legal or employment consequences and interviews may trigger psychological distress. Researcher might with possible police scrutiny, online harassment, exposure at protest sites, and vicarious trauma.

To mitigate the participants: De-identify at source; no specific names, faces, or locations; do not ask about unlawful acts; let participants skip questions or stop anytime; separate consent forms from data; use safe meeting places or secure online calls.

To mitigate the researcher: Fieldwork safety plan; avoid frontline protest areas; keep a low profile online; ethics approval & supervisor check-ins; peer support; secure devices.

Who is conducting this study?

This study is being conducted by a social researcher as part of an academic project on protest, policing, and civic participation.

What is this research about?

The project explores how protesters and police officers experience protest events and how these interactions influence perceptions of justice, safety, and rights. The goal is to better understand the social and emotional dynamics involved in public demonstrations.

Why have I been invited?

You have been invited because you have taken part in, observed, or worked in a protest event and can provide valuable insights into your experiences and perspectives.

What will participation involve?

If you choose to participate, you will be invited to a confidential interview lasting about 30–45 minutes.
You will be asked about:
1. Your experiences during or around protest events.
2. Your views on policing, safety, and public gatherings.
3. How these experiences may have affected your outlook or daily life.

Participation is voluntary. You may skip any question or stop the interview at any time without giving a reason.

Are there any risks?

Some questions may feel sensitive or bring back stressful memories. There is a small risk of being identified if specific places or actions are mentioned.
To minimise these risks:

• No real names or identifying details will be recorded.

• Pseudonyms will be used in all notes or reports.

• Recordings will be stored securely and accessed only by the researcher.

You are free to pause or end the interview at any moment if you feel uncomfortable.

Are there any benefits?

There are no direct personal benefits. However, your contribution will help improve understanding of protest experiences and social relationships between citizens and police.

Confidentiality and data storage

All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. Your answers will be de-identified, stored securely, and used only for research and educational purposes. No identifying details will appear in any written report or presentation. Taking part is completely voluntary. You may withdraw at any time during or up to 14 days after the interview. If you withdraw, all your data will be permanently deleted.

Participating in a study about protests and policing may bring up strong emotions or memories. If you feel upset, anxious, or distressed during or after the interview, you can contact one of the following free and confidential support services:

1. Lifeline

• Phone: 131114

• Website: www.lifeline.org.au

• Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Services: Crisis support and suicide prevention hotline offering confidential counselling for anyone feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in emotional distress.

2. Beyond Blue

• Phone: 1300224636

• Website: www.beyondblue.org.au

• Available: 24/7 telephone and online chat service

• Services: Support for anxiety, stress, depression, or burnout; offers short-term counselling, self-help resources, and referrals to mental health professionals.

For free and confidential support services in Hong Kong:

1. Samaritans Hong Kong

• Phone: 28960000

• Website: www.samaritans.org.hk

• Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Languages: English (Mandarin and Cantonese support also available)

• Services: Provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support to anyone in distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts.

2. Mind HK

• Website: www.mind.org.hk

• Email: hello@mind.org.hk

• Services: Offers bilingual online mental-health information, self-help resources, and lists of low-cost counselling services.

Aamina Patel 

Olivia Turnbull

Thomas Jensen 

Jenna Stewart

Georgia Thompson

Key ethics considerations include ensuring informed, voluntary participation and safeguarding confidentiality, recognising the heightened vulnerability of women experiencing dowry abuse. Researchers must assess and limit eligibility to exclude participants in immediate danger or at risk of homelessness, ensuring a baseline level of safety before involvement and prioritising the individual’s wellbeing and autonomy to avoid further psychological, social, or economic harm.

Case study is of a high risk group.  Due to their demographic of being women, the cultural and religious sensitivity and possible barriers/ability to feel safe to express freely, visa status and migration status, stereotypes of women within arranged marriages and the fear of participants that sharing information could result in further domestic/family violence and abuse to themselves and their families.  Their visa status may exclude them from accessing government resources and report which participating could further add to their potential physical, psychological, financial, social harm and harm to their sense of self worth.

Researching dowry and dowry abuse in Australia presents risks to researchers, including emotional distress, safety concerns, and ethical challenges. Researchers may face vicarious trauma, community backlash, or reinforcing stereotypes about migrant groups. To mitigate these, researchers should use trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approaches, obtain ethics approval, ensure confidentiality, secure data handling, plan safe interview logistics, and engage community advisors. Ongoing supervision, debriefing, and emotional support are also essential for researcher wellbeing. \

Information sheet -

We are conducting a series of interviews regarding dowry abuse within australia. The researcher is interested in the prevelance of this issue within Australia and how the location impacts it.

You have been invited to participate if you have experienced this at any capacity within your life.

You will be interviewed by our primary researcher, who will record these interviews. These recordings will not be played back for anyone else to listen to until you consent.

After this, we will allow for you to listen to the recording. In this, you will be able to remove or change any of yur responses as you deem fit so to ensure you are appropriately articulating as you wish to. When you consent to it, your answers will be analysed. You will be completely de-identified.

Because of the nature of the research, you may become distressed. We emphasise that you can withdraw from this at any time without any form of penalty. If something discussed cuases distress you can also contact the Domestic Violence Hotline or the NSW sexual violence hotline. When the study is complete, your answers will be securely stored by the researchers for a period of 5 years from the date of publication, and then will be deleted or shredded.

This will be published in a research paper. Your identity will always remain completely anonymous.

Domestic Violence Hotline and NSW sexual violence hotline both provide over-the -phone support and discussion on where victims can head next in terms of strategies to deal with the dowry abuse.

Drawing on research methodologies that counter power imbalances in the design and conduct of research, Banks (2019) notes several inclusive methods—such as, feminist co-design, participatory action research, and Indigenous methodologies—which Higgins systematically incorporates throughout her research practice. As a decolonial human rights researcher, Higgins foregrounds the significance of positionality, critically examining the relationship between the researcher and the research topic/s: who they are, why they have chosen to undertake this research, and why they are a good fit to conduct such research. Through this reflexive engagement, Higgins not only cultivates an ethical research praxis that centres the voices and lived experiences of those whom she writes about, but also explicitly recognises and attributes credit to the very people whose knowledges underpin and inform her overarching data analysis. This ethical consideration is particularly relevant within the Australian social work context, given the profession's historical and ongoing role as an agent of state violence against First Nations Peoples. By prioritising ethical considerations of reflexivity, positionality, and co-authorship in conducting research, Higgins thus actively resists the erasure and exclusion of Indigenous and/or other marginalised communities, underscoring how decolonial practices remain an imperative to the ethics of research design.

This case shows the difference in ethical considerations between studies that use primary and secondary data. As a researcher that primarily works on secondary data that has been gathered by previous research, one of the primary ethical concerns would be research merit and integrity. Banks (2019) outlines that research merit and integrity is ethically justified through potential benefit and is conducted with honesty and integrity. For Cale, he mentioned that a lot of his research focuses on vocational training in prisons, which the outcomes of his research may benefit prisoners by improving models and lowering reoffending rates. Conducting research with secondary data with honesty and integrity would include practices like data being sourced legally, not being misrepresented or manipulated and including the full process of data analysis to show how you came to the conclusions with the data you gathered.