Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, Vol 67(1), Feb 2026, 33-42; doi:10.1037/cap0000440
The pervasive influence of digital data in contemporary society presents research psychologists with significant ethical challenges that have yet to be fully recognized or addressed. The rapid evolution of data technologies and integration into research practices has outpaced the guidance provided by existing ethical frameworks and regulations, leaving researchers vulnerable to unethical decision making about data. This is important to recognize because data is now imbued with substantial financial value and enables relations with many powerful entities, like governments and corporations. Accordingly, decision making about data can have far-reaching and harmful consequences for participants and society. As we approach the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists’ 40th anniversary, we highlight the need for small updates to its ethical standards with respect to data practices in psychological research. We examine two common data practices that have largely escaped thorough ethical scrutiny among psychologists: the use of Amazon’s Mechanical Turk for data collection and the creation and expansion of microtargeting, including recruitment for psychological research. We read these examples and psychologists’ reactions to them against the current version of the Code. We close by offering specific recommendations for expanding the Code’s standards, though also considering the role of policy, guidelines, and position papers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)