Which scenario would be exempt from REB review?

• A. Publicly accessible information with no privacy expectations
• B. Data from private medical records with consent
• C. Interviews with sensitive topics
• D. Deceptive research procedures

Answer: (A)

When information is publicly accessible and there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, REB review can be exempt because the privacy risk to individuals is considered negligible. This means the data are already in the public domain and cannot easily identify or harm anyone, so additional ethics review isn’t required to protect participants.

In the given scenarios, publicly accessible information with no privacy expectations fits that exempt category. The other options involve private medical records, sensitive topic interviews, or deceptive procedures, all of which raise privacy, consent, or risk concerns that require REB oversight to ensure protections for participants.