AoIR’s Risky Research Guide

We are delighted to share the publication of Risky Research: An AoIR Guide to Researcher Protection and Safety 2025, the culmination of over two years of collaborative effort by the AoIR Risky Research Working Group.

We designed this report to directly address the increasing personal, institutional, and political risks faced by researchers around the globe. This includes researchers from marginalized and minoritized communities and people working on controversial, sensitive, or politically charged topics—from disinformation and extremism to LGBTQ+ rights, platform governance, and climate change.

Drawing from the collective expertise and lived experiences of more than 30 international contributors, the guide provides:

• A framework for identifying and assessing risk in scholarly research
• Practical strategies for mitigating harms at individual, institutional, and community levels
• Guidance for designing projects with risk in mind
• Concrete recommendations for universities, supervisors, and departments
• A curated set of tools, policies, and best practices for responding to harassment, surveillance, doxxing, and more

The guide is designed to support researchers at all stages of their careers, including students, contingent faculty, and those conducting research in politically restrictive contexts. It builds on and extends AoIR’s long-standing commitment to ethics, care, and collective responsibility within internet research.

Download the guide here AoIR Risky Research Guide_2025