Ethics panels are important, but not the final word on what is right or wrong. If someone isn't defined to be an experimental subject, then the rules regarding deception are pretty lax.

In fact, your post exhibits exactly the supercilious attitude that I was complaining about. The article implied that any academic research was sufficient reason to engage in deception that would otherwise be unethical. Now you are saying that I cannot comment on the ethics of research because the ethics panel has already decided the matter.

EDIT: I assumed some sarcasm in your (deleted) post, and if I was wrong in assuming that, I apologize.