A grey area of research ethics: Public vs private spaces for internet-based research

Internet-based researchers (IBR) are often presented with the challenge of determining what is in the public and private domain
for online ethics. Convery and Cox (2012) argue that the literature generally supports the use of informed consent in private
settings but is less clear about public spaces. Thus, establishing what is public and private is increasingly relevant. The
complexity in this area is that ethical guidelines vary from university to university. What is acceptable or deemed as public in
one institute may be deemed up for interpretation in another.