Researching Crime and Deviance in Southeast Asia: Challenges and Ethics When Using Online Data

Abstract

The digitalization of data and information is enabling and empowering more research based on data found online. Digitalization has reduced if not eliminated the technological and geographical differentials in access to data. This has made it easier for researchers in less well-endowed jurisdictions to undertake research. Researchers in crime and deviance in Southeast Asian countries are emerging and online data is often being used. However the challenges and ethical concerns of new research methodologies inherent in online research have not yet featured in the discourse. This chapter aims to explore the concerns and challenges of online data collection and use of existing online data to conduct crime and deviance research in the region. It will also discuss whether existing basic ethics principles of research developed in the west are directly applicable in this region.