The Methodological and Ethical Implications of Using Imagery as the Primary Method of Researching Online Extremism

Contemporary society is becoming ever-more absorbed in a technologically-enabled visual culture that is increasingly exploited by extremists to promulgate imagery utilising a wide range of symbols and rituals that have collective meanings. This chapter details the practical, methodological, and ethical challenges of using imagery as the primary method of researching online extremism. It will outline the data sampling, collection, and analysis used in this book, and address the key ethical issues encountered, which include privacy and consent, copyright, researcher safety and security, reporting and dissemination ethics, and mental health considerations. The chapter provides recommendations for researchers from various sectors to be able to conduct research into online extremism more efficiently and advocates for more inclusive and equitable approaches for researcher safety, recognising the impact of factors such as socioeconomic background, institutional prestige, and geographical location on researchers’ access to support and protection.