Articles

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.

Beware of Phishing and Other Cyber Scams

As phishing emails circulated across the insights industry this week, the Insights Association reminds everyone to stay vigilant with every communication they receive and avoid falling prey to scams.

Associations Shaping the Future of AI in Market Research - Opportunities, Ethics, and Regulation

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
12/1/2023 11:29:00 AM

During recent conversations with leaders at market research agencies and corporate insights departments, current and future use of AI in our work and is a persistent topic. Some leaders in the space fully believe that AI, and generative tools, will be as important an evolution as the migration to online. More powerful Generative AI applications can bring welcomed time, cost, and quality efficiencies, but can also enable more sophisticated and harder-to-detect fraud.

Fighting for You: October 2023 Legislative and Regulatory Update

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
10/26/2023 12:55:00 PM

As Halloween rapidly approaches, the Insights Association is searching for treats in legislation and regulation while trying to defuse the tricks that may pose a threat to the insights industry. In October, we looked at the FTC and some privacy legislation concerns, argued against proposed state data taxes, analyzed AI regulatory proposals, looked at new non-compete restrictions in California, and new federal registration responsibilities for a lot of small insights businesses.

IA Inveighs Against DC Proposal to Tax Data

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
10/20/2023 10:06:00 AM

The Insights Association (IA), the leading nonprofit trade association for the market research and data analytics industry, is urging the District of Columbia to reject a proposal that would tax consumer data.

Fighting for You September 2023 Legislative and Regulatory Update

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
9/28/2023 9:14:00 AM

While temperatures are starting to dip, concerns still simmered in September for the insights industry as we dealt with more new state privacy laws, burgeoning regulation of AI, and other pressing advocacy issues.

Pulling for Improved FY24 Census Funding Outlook

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
9/19/2023 8:56:00 AM

With a potential government shutdown looming and major design decisions for the 2030 decennial census almost upon us, the Insights Association joined more than ninety groups urging higher funding for the Census Bureau in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).

Fighting for You: Summer 2023 Legislative and Regulatory Update

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
8/31/2023 8:00:00 AM

As we close out an intense summer for the insights industry, the Insights Association has been focused on a wide variety of policy issues, including: the launch of a new program for legally transferring European Union personal data to the U.S.; looming worries in complying with state comprehensive consumer data privacy laws that came into effect on July 1, and newly-passed state laws in Florida and Tennessee; the latest developments in compliance concerns and regulation of artificial intelligenc...

The FCC Should Not Require Legal Calls be Blocked and Mislabeled in the Crusade Against Robocalls

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
8/16/2023 9:05:00 AM

A coalition of lawful callers, including the insights industry, requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) “exercise care to avoid preventing the transmission of legal calls in its effort to deter illegal robocalls” and “not create the same problem that it is trying to fight.”

EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework Finally Live for Trans-Atlantic Data Transfers

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
7/26/2023 7:17:00 AM

A new program providing the U.S. insights industry legal certainty for trans-Atlantic data sharing is live, replacing the defunct Privacy Shield.

Cloud Computing Services Benefit from Flexible Approach to Data Security

Howard Fienberg
Government Affairs
6/22/2023 10:42:00 AM

Comprehensive privacy legislation based upon a "flexible, risk-based approach" would be the best way to approach data security and competition concerns in the cloud computing industry, according to Privacy for America.