Public Policy Update - February 2008
This is part of a series of briefings aimed at keeping you abreast of important public issues being considered around the world that could have an impact on market research. It covers the following issues:
1. New ICC/ESOMAR International Code
The revised Code strengthens privacy assurances to respondents and in promoting internationally agreed ethical and professional principles to legislators and the public, it builds consumer protection and confidence. Read more
2. The European Commission’s Data Privacy Working Party
The European Commission’s Data Privacy Working Party issued an opinion on personal data last year to provide more guidance on how to apply data privacy rules. Read more
3. The EU Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices
This aims to harmonise national laws protecting consumers against unfair commercial practices, misleading marketing and advertising communications and aggressive sales techniques including high pressure selling. Read more
4. The EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive
This Directive updates the 1997 ‘Television without Frontiers’ Directive and sets new EU rules on TV advertising and product placement. Read more
5. European Commission White Paper on Obesity
The EU White Paper “A strategy for Europe on nutrition, overweight and obesity related health issues” on food advertising and marketing practices aims to address rising concerns about obesity especially among young people. Read more
6. EU developing policy on RFID and e-privacy
A 2006 public consultation on smart radio tags (RFID) showed growing public concern about how personal data is used. Read more
7. EU developing policy on children’s privacy issues
The European Commission public consultation on safer internet for children last year focused on illegal and harmful content, user-generated and on-line communications. Read more
8. Ensuring ISO 20252 compliance from subcontractors
Companies that have started to implement the global ISO 20252 quality standards have had to think about how to deal with subcontracting. Read more
9. Huge fines for silent calls in the UK
Companies in the UK that plague consumers with silent calls can be fined by telecom authority Ofcom. Read more
10. US House approves Do-Not-Call improvement legislation
Two bills passed by the House of Representatives HR 3541, the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act, will eliminate the automatic removal of telephone numbers from the National Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry. Read more
11. US push for registry of drug makers’ gifts to doctors
Several Senators are pushing legislation to require drug makers to disclose the payments they make to doctors for services like consulting, lectures and attendance at seminars. Read more
12. Victory for issue polling in Florida
Last fall, CMOR convinced Florida election officials to retract an advisory opinion that would have prohibited political issue polling in Florida. Read more
13. Global data storage and retention
The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 275) in October. Read more
14. Political robocalls, ADAD and IVR
2008 is a presidential election year in the US and the use of automatic dialling announcing devices (ADAD), interactive voice response (IVR) systems, and other forms of artificial or pre-recorded voice messages is subject to tremendous legislative scrutiny. Read more
By Kathy Joe (ESOMAR), Pauline Weinzierl (APCO), Lex Olivier (EFAMRO), Diane Bowers (CASRO) and Howard Fienberg (CMOR).
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