Public Policy Update - January 2007
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 the market research profession.
Véronique Jeannin, ESOMAR Director GeneralStepping up initiatives to deal with spam and data privacy
By Kathy Joe, ESOMAR and Pauline Weinzierl, APCO
1. EU calls for stronger anti-spam efforts
The European Commission adopted a communication on fighting spam, spyware and malicious software in November 2006 as it wants better enforcement of EU rules banning unsolicited e-mail. Read more
2. Industry wants clarity on international data transfer
International businesses must rise to the challenge of how to manage international data transfer efficiently while complying with rules from 25 different EU regimes when processing data. Read more
3. More scrutiny for companies handling personal data
Early in 2006, the European Commission published suggestions for reviewing the regulatory framework on e-communications which includes the e-Privacy Directive, and ran a public consultation on this review in the second half of 2006. Read more
4. RFID – Commission consultations attract record response
Viviane Reding, Commissioner for the Information and Media, said that last year’s online public consultation attracted a record response. Read more
5. ESOMAR consults members on revised ICC/ESOMAR International Code
ESOMAR initiated a key project at the start of 2006, the revision of the ICC/ESOMAR International Code which was last updated in 1995. Read more
6. European Commission wants observatory for public opinion research
ESOMAR co-organised a session on raising the quality of polls during a stakeholder conference on public opinion research held by the European Commission in Madrid in October. Read more
7. Bulgarian Commissioner to deal with Consumer Protection
As Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007, candidates have been nominated for the position of Commissioner – with a reshuffle in responsibilities in the European Commission. Read more
8. Russia’s Data Protection Law
Russia’s new data protection law, which is based on both EU and US data protection legislation, comes into effect in February 2007. Read more
9. Implementing ISO 20252 is a key objective for EFAMRO
By Lex Olivier, EFAMRO Director General
The recent acceptance of the global ISO 20252 norm for market research is not only the end of carefully managed process of consensus-seeking professionals, it is also the beginning of a tremendous worldwide implementation effort. Read more
Update on US regulatory arena
10. FAQs on Interactive Voice Response programs
By Diane Bowers, CASRO President
For many years federal and state governments have placed restrictions on the use of auto-diallers with (or without) recorded message players. Read more
11. US Legislative Activity: Technology, Taxes and the Census
By Donna Gillin, CMOR Director of Operations
Various categories of legislation that could impact the survey research profession have been introduced over the past year in the US. Read more
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