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Stay at the forefront of the consumer insights and analytics industry with our Thought Leadership content. Here you’ll find timely updates on the Insights Association’s advocacy efforts, including the latest legislative and regulatory developments that impact how we work. In addition, this section offers expert perspectives on innovative research techniques and methodologies, as well as valuable analysis of evolving consumer trends. Together, these insights provide a trusted resource for professionals looking to navigate change, elevate their practice, and shape the future of our industry.

Archive by author: Howard FienbergReturn
Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers. Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS. He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals. Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC). When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.
Fighting for You July 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Update

Fighting for You July 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Update

July may be peak vacation season, but policymakers gave the insights industry little opportunity to relax. The Insights Association tracked and engaged on consequential developments involving privacy and data security, artificial intelligence and HR law, from the defeat of problematic California data-localization legislation to a damaging new data law in New Jersey, federal restrictions affecting children’s data, emerging chatbot requirements and new rules governing non-compete agreements.
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Fighting for You June 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Update

Fighting for You June 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Update

Summer is here, but the insights industry can’t afford a vacation from legislative and regulatory advocacy for our interests. In June, the Insights Association secured significant victories on AI policy, helping defeat legislation in California and Minnesota that would have imposed substantial new restrictions on the use of research data, synthetic data, and AI-enabled insights tools, while engaging with other AI and privacy issues in California, Massachusetts and Congress.
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Code in Action: Applying IA Research Standards to AI

Code in Action: Applying IA Research Standards to AI

Utilization and application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research are expanding and already supporting exciting improvements in the speed, scale, depth, and predictability of insights the industry can deliver to end users. However, the impact AI can have on research raises familiar, new, and evolving considerations for practitioners. Key mandatories to ensure research integrity and quality when using AI tools are outlined in the Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics.
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Minnesota Bills Targeting Automated Decision Systems and Research Data Privacy Defeated -- Would Have Imposed Sweeping New Restrictions on Insights Operations

Minnesota Bills Targeting Automated Decision Systems and Research Data Privacy Defeated -- Would Have Imposed Sweeping New Restrictions on Insights Operations

A pair of bills in Minnesota that would have restricted the use of AI-like automated decision systems regarding research subjects who receive incentives, and added a new layer of data privacy restrictions, have been defeated. H.F. 4445 and S.F. 4689 would have been enforced via private litigation, creating significant legal risks for organizations conducting market research, analytics and insights in Minnesota.
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California Bill Defeated - Would Have Prohibited Synthetic Data and AI Training with Research Subject Data (A.B. 2027)

California Bill Defeated - Would Have Prohibited Synthetic Data and AI Training with Research Subject Data (A.B. 2027)

California A.B. 2027, legislation opposed by the Insights Association that would have prohibited the use of personal information provided by any research subjects (if they received an incentive for participation) for purposes of (1) training artificial intelligence (AI) systems or tools or (2) building synthetic data, personas or respondents, has died.
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Proposed Independent Contractor Status Rules from U.S. Department of Labor Raise IA Concerns About Classification of Research Subjects

Proposed Independent Contractor Status Rules from U.S. Department of Labor Raise IA Concerns About Classification of Research Subjects

​​​​​​​The Trump Administration has revived its proposed regulatory approach to independent contractor status from the President’s first term. The Insights Association expressed concern that the rules may not help the insights industry unless they affirm that research subjects who receive incentives are independent contractors, not employees.
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