This is a textbook case of using human subjects without consent. There is absolutely no room for argument that this isn't an ethic violation, regardless of whether you feel harm was caused to people or not.
Calling it "not an ethics violation" is like saying that a theft wasn't theft because of what was stolen or who from. It's irrefutably not true. No journal would accept this research, and for very good reason.
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This is a textbook case of using human subjects without consent. There is absolutely no room for argument that this isn't an ethic violation, regardless of whether you feel harm was caused to people or not.
Calling it "not an ethics violation" is like saying that a theft wasn't theft because of what was stolen or who from. It's irrefutably not true. No journal would accept this research, and for very good reason.