Ethical challenges in digital research on the far-right continuum: Insights from Northern Europe
Segers, Iris Beau ; Norocel, Ov Cristian LU
and Ess, Charles M.
(2026)
p.124-137
- Abstract
- Conducting digital research on the far-right continuum (covering a broad array of actors further to the right from what is generally considered the mainstream right), evokes several serious ethical challenges. This becomes particularly poignant in cases whose research subjects hold illiberal, extreme, and potentially hostile views toward the researcher. In this chapter, we critically reflect on these challenges in relation to current ethics frameworks of online research in Northern Europe – specifically in Sweden and Norway. The analysis entails two steps. First, we scrutinize the key concepts and ways of problematizing the issues that are present in the ethical guidelines in the two countries. Second, we zoom in on the ascribed position... (More)
- Conducting digital research on the far-right continuum (covering a broad array of actors further to the right from what is generally considered the mainstream right), evokes several serious ethical challenges. This becomes particularly poignant in cases whose research subjects hold illiberal, extreme, and potentially hostile views toward the researcher. In this chapter, we critically reflect on these challenges in relation to current ethics frameworks of online research in Northern Europe – specifically in Sweden and Norway. The analysis entails two steps. First, we scrutinize the key concepts and ways of problematizing the issues that are present in the ethical guidelines in the two countries. Second, we zoom in on the ascribed position and safety of the researcher, and the management of risks related to (online) harassment and threats. Our analysis shows that concern for the safety of scholars is more solidly embedded in the Norwegian ethics guidelines when compared to the Swedish framework. In conclusion, we call for increased institutional responsibility toward scholars undertaking “risky” research, in which broader understanding of “risk” and “harm” should be addressed. In addition, we argue for moving beyond the “box-ticking” nature of ethics vetting at the start of the research project and for embracing instead the perspective of continuously adapting these processes to the individual necessities arising from the fieldwork of each project. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5a63b7c4-9ead-4536-8121-6e7ad3939750
- author
- Segers, Iris Beau
; Norocel, Ov Cristian
LU
and Ess, Charles M.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Ethics, ethical challenges, IRBs, far-right, risky research
- host publication
- (Un)Silencing Academia in Times of Epistemic Conflicts : Navigating Online Violence - Navigating Online Violence
- editor
- Giorgi, Alberta and Eslen-Ziya, Hande
- pages
- 14 pages
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105028341628
- ISBN
- 978-1-003-54271-1
- 978-1-032-73140-7
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003542711-15
- project
- An ethnographic exploration of anti-genderism: ideas, identities and political practices in the Nordic region
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 5a63b7c4-9ead-4536-8121-6e7ad3939750
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-01 10:27:18
- date last changed
- 2026-02-23 04:00:54
@inbook{5a63b7c4-9ead-4536-8121-6e7ad3939750,
abstract = {{Conducting digital research on the far-right continuum (covering a broad array of actors further to the right from what is generally considered the mainstream right), evokes several serious ethical challenges. This becomes particularly poignant in cases whose research subjects hold illiberal, extreme, and potentially hostile views toward the researcher. In this chapter, we critically reflect on these challenges in relation to current ethics frameworks of online research in Northern Europe – specifically in Sweden and Norway. The analysis entails two steps. First, we scrutinize the key concepts and ways of problematizing the issues that are present in the ethical guidelines in the two countries. Second, we zoom in on the ascribed position and safety of the researcher, and the management of risks related to (online) harassment and threats. Our analysis shows that concern for the safety of scholars is more solidly embedded in the Norwegian ethics guidelines when compared to the Swedish framework. In conclusion, we call for increased institutional responsibility toward scholars undertaking “risky” research, in which broader understanding of “risk” and “harm” should be addressed. In addition, we argue for moving beyond the “box-ticking” nature of ethics vetting at the start of the research project and for embracing instead the perspective of continuously adapting these processes to the individual necessities arising from the fieldwork of each project.}},
author = {{Segers, Iris Beau and Norocel, Ov Cristian and Ess, Charles M.}},
booktitle = {{(Un)Silencing Academia in Times of Epistemic Conflicts : Navigating Online Violence}},
editor = {{Giorgi, Alberta and Eslen-Ziya, Hande}},
isbn = {{978-1-003-54271-1}},
keywords = {{Ethics; ethical challenges; IRBs; far-right; risky research}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{124--137}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
title = {{Ethical challenges in digital research on the far-right continuum: Insights from Northern Europe}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003542711-15}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781003542711-15}},
year = {{2026}},
}