The Ethics of Social Media Research - Carole Levitt

Course Summary:

“The Ethics of Social Media Research” with Carole Levitt is a vital course for professionals who utilize social media as a research tool. It addresses the increasing ethical and legal complexities of online investigations, emphasizing the importance of responsible data collection and utilization. Carole Levitt, a renowned expert in legal and internet research, provides practical guidance on navigating privacy concerns, legal restrictions, and ethical considerations when gathering information from social media platforms. The course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to conduct thorough investigations while adhering to ethical standards and legal requirements.

Target Audience:

This program is ideal for:

• Legal professionals conducting online investigations.
• Private investigators and researchers.
• Law enforcement personnel.
• Human resources professionals.
• Journalists and media researchers.
• Anyone who conducts investigations online.

Main Content:

The course likely covers key areas such as:

• Privacy Concerns: Understanding the ethical implications of accessing and using personal information from social media.
• Legal Restrictions: Navigating legal frameworks and regulations related to online data collection.
• Data Preservation: Best practices for preserving digital evidence in an ethical and legally sound manner.
• Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Ethics: Ethical considerations when using publicly available online resources.
• Ethical Data Collection: Techniques for gathering information from social media responsibly.
• Case Law and Legal Precedents: Analyzing relevant legal cases and precedents related to social media research.
• Best Practices for Reporting Findings: Presenting social media research findings in an ethical and professional manner.
• Social media platform terms of service and how they affect research.
• How to properly document digital evidence.