Bad Outcomes, Good Intentions: Approaching the Potential Misuse of Crime Data by Policymakers

Abstract

Scientific research ethics are challenged today by the risk of misusing research results that could adversely affect or harm both individuals and their environment. In the ethics literature, such risks have been linked to the possibility of research results falling into the wrong hands, i.e., for criminal or terrorist purposes. However, crime data misuse can also affect policy makers' decisions and lead to discrimination, stigmatization, harassment, and intimidation of citizens. From a twofold perspective, this chapter examines the potential misuse of crime data caused by policy decisions: 1) outlining the ethical scope of potential misuses in European security research; and 2) proposing recommendations to minimize this risk based on a ‘Mutual Distrust Model’ between researchers and policymakers.