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ABSTRACT
This paper adds to the emergent literature on Internet research ethics by exploring the ethical implications of researching the use of Facebook to organize the union flag protests in Northern Ireland in January 2013. These protests were viewed as a ‘lightning rod’ for loyalist dissatisfaction with the peace process, as well as a manifestation of their increasing alienation from their unionist political representatives. The covert observation of the Loyalist Peaceful Protest Updater (LPPU) page in January 2013 found some evidence to support the suggestion that social media had become a ‘sectarian battleground’ during the flag protests. This created an ethical dilemma in terms of what level of anonymity should be afforded to those who posted such content on the page. While there was no requirement to ‘please’ unaware participants, the researcher was wary of inadvertently contributing to the online shaming of loyalists by groups such as Loyalists Against Democracy. Therefore, it was decided to only use direct quotes from public figures, such as the leaders of the flag protest movement, who would presumably have no expectation that their comments would remain private. The narratives of the ‘rank and file’ protesters were conveyed through the use of direct quotes that could not be traced back to their authors and the paraphrasing of their comments. In light of the limitations of alternative strategies such as fabrication and word clouds, this was the most appropriate way to illustrate the themes from the LPPU without distorting the voices of these users.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Paul Reilly, PhD, is Senior Lecturer in the Information School, University of Sheffield. [email: [email protected]]
Filippo Trevisan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Public Communication Division of American University's School of Communication in Washington, DC. [email: [email protected]]
Notes
1 Protest provocateurs travelled from one protest site to another and were often asked to speak at loyalist rallies.
2 The NI CBI called for Belfast City Council to provide financial assistance to traders experiencing difficulties. For more, see: http://www.u.tv/News/Baggott-to--flag-protest-threat/406e382b-833f-4a63-aaaf-8fa8b5bfe919
5 Police Federation spokesperson Terry Spence provided these statistics. For more see, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22781555
6 The man was not identified due to legal reasons. For more, see: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/facebook-loyalist-flag-pages-shut-down-29039564.html
7 ‘Flag protests: Loyalty no excuse for violence, says police chief'. BBC, 12 December 2012. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20622185 (accessed on 10 August 2014).
9 The group has used the name LADFLEG. LAD was its chosen moniker during the period under review.
10 Emerson's original piece featured in the Sunday Times. It was later reproduced on the LAD blog and can be accessed here: http://loyalistsagainstdemocracy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/real-online-wonder-of-year.html (accessed on 10 August 2014).
11 The Belfast Bigot meme was based on footage of a female loyalist protester shouting no surrender through a broken window during the controversial flag vote at the City Hall on 3 December 2012. Further information on this meme and #flegs can be found here: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/northern-ireland-flag-protests-2012-13 (accessed on 10 August 2014).
12 The group has used the name LADFLEG. LAD was its chosen moniker during the period under review.
13 The man captured on camera was subsequently charged with two counts of disorderly behaviour and assaulting a police officer. Loyalist claims that he was a pensioner were also later refuted in the news media.
14 The full transcript of his statement can be found here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmniaf/877/130124.htm
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