Covert research in ethnography is beset with

Covert research in ethnography is beset chiefly with ethical issues.

Studying people without their knowledge denies them informed consent.

Deception and hidden observation raise questions of privacy and trust.

Personal issues are practical inconveniences, not the core problem here.

Political issues concern power relations, not the defining flaw of covert work.

Covert designs are sometimes justified only when overt access is impossible.