Proposed 2030 Census Rules Would Make Insights Less Reliable Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 10/19/2026 5:44:00 PM The Census Bureau’s proposed rule to rewrite how the next decennial census is run poses substantial challenges to the insights industry. The rule will restrict demographic questions, and change who counts and where they are counted. Read More
Insights Association Permanently Bans Four Individuals Who Pled Guilty in Op4G/SliceMR Market Research Fraud Case Howard Fienberg Ethics 10/14/2026 3:14:00 PM The Insights Association (IA), the nonprofit association representing the U.S. market research, insights, and analytics industry, has permanently barred Frank Nappo, Frank Hayden, Daniel Harriman, and Ryan Stoudt from IA membership after each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the federal case involving Op4G, Slice (SliceMR), and SNWare. The IA Standards Committee will apply similar consequences to any other individuals or companies involved in fraudulent activity. Read More
Minor 2026 IA Code of Standards Revisions and Call for 2027 Input Howard Fienberg Methods & Trends, Management & Operations, Ethics 10/14/2026 2:36:00 PM The Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics is a living document, reflecting both the enduring principles of responsible research and the changing realities of the insights profession. Learn about 2026's minor revisions and the call for input on a much more substantive review in 2027. Read More
Bill to Ban Data Sale to Third Parties Vetoed in California Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 10/14/2026 8:21:00 AM The governor vetoed California A.B. 1542, a bill opposed by the Insights Association that would have prohibited most companies from selling sensitive personal information to a third party. States are cracking down on data sharing, but the governor worried about “unintended consequences if consumers are removed entirely from the decision process." Read More
California Heeds Insights Industry Concerns in Three Privacy and AI Bills Before Passing Them Into Law Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 10/8/2026 1:34:00 PM Insights Association advocacy helped protect the conduct of market research, insights and analytics in three California privacy and AI bills, curtailing the impact on relations with research subjects before the bills became law. Read More
California Blocks Abusive CIPA Litigation Against Insights Firms Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 10/1/2026 1:29:00 PM California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed an Insights Association-endorsed bill into law on September 30, 2026, finally cracking down on abusive litigation that has plagued some insights firms. Read More
Fighting for You September 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Update Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 9/24/2026 9:05:00 AM As summer gives way to fall, U.S. policymakers are giving the insights industry plenty to keep an eye on. This month, the Insights Association backed a new California law clarifying the legality of alcohol taste-testing research, pushed back against proposed changes to the 2030 Census and delays in critical census data, supported legislation to curb abusive privacy lawsuits, and tracked a fresh wave of state privacy and artificial intelligence proposals affecting insights businesses across the c... Read More
New California Law Legalizes Alcohol Taste Testing Research - A.B. 1991 Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 9/23/2026 9:37:00 AM A new law in the Golden State, supported by the Insights Association, specifically authorizes alcohol taste testing market research, following years of unofficial guidance and vague legal status. Read More
Proposal to End Race and Ethnicity Data in 2030 Census Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 9/10/2026 2:08:00 PM The U.S. Census Bureau just proposed to eliminate race and ethnicity questions from the 2030 Census, a move vigorously opposed by the Insights Association for its detrimental impact on the insights industry and the broader business world. The proposal also includes changes to rules for counting immigrants and others. Read More
IA Raises Concerns About Indefinite Delay of ACS Data Howard Fienberg Government Affairs 9/4/2026 9:53:00 AM The Census Bureau announced an indefinite delay in the release of American Community Survey (ACS) data, which poses a severe threat to the ability of the market research, insights and analytics industry to deliver statistically representative and reliable insights. Read More