Articles

A federal watchdog has criticized the Ask U.S. Panel project, concluding an investigation of the Census Bureau’s attempt to develop an online research panel to compete with the insights industry.

As we begin a new year, let’s take a quick look back at the insights industry’s successes and challenges covered by the Insights Association in December 2022, including: wins and losses on taxes specifically targeting insights; wins and losses on state privacy bills; last-minute preparations for new state privacy laws; bringing transparency to the Census Bureau’s attempts to compete with our industry; and state and federal legislation impacting our ability to treat research subjects as indepe...

An omnibus Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) appropriations bill was introduced early on December 20, 2022, including language demanding transparency on the Census Bureau's Ask U.S. Panel project, as requested by the leading nonprofit association for the insights industry. (It became law shortly thereafter)

As Congress nears completion of an omnibus bill to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), the Insights Association is reminding Appropriations Committee leaders of the need for transparency on the Census Bureau's Ask U.S. Panel project.

Temperatures may be cooling as the calendar turns to autumn, but legislative issues are heating up as lawmakers get back to work following summer breaks. Here are some of the key issues we're engaged with at the national and state level on your behalf...

The Insights Association, in concert with Census Project coalition allies, is urging Congress to help address "the many challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. Census Bureau" by providing at least $1.505 billion in funding in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

The Insights Association has worked throughout July and August to improve a comprehensive federal privacy bill that passed out of committee in the U.S. House, counter a harmful bill in Delaware, and urge changes to California’s pending state privacy regulations. Also, IA’s campaign for transparency in the Census Bureau’s Ask U.S. Panel project, which would compete against the insights industry, has spurred Congressional action.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will require a detailed report from the U.S. Census Bureau about the Ask U.S. Panel, which the Insights Association has warned "could waste millions of taxpayer dollars in a vain attempt to compete with existing online research panel providers, instead of simply purchasing those services on the open market for a fraction of the cost.”

To our pleasant surprise, Congress has actually been cutting compromises on federal privacy legislation, as the Insights Association has been seeking, so that has been a big focus this month, along with other privacy and data security concerns. Also on this month’s docket have been rules to treat a research subject as an independent contractor, the use of employee non-compete agreements, funding for the U.S. Census, and the regulation of alcohol market research.

As the Congressional appropriations process slowly moves forward for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), the Insights Association is supporting a significant increase in funding for the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS). Quality data from these constitutionally-mandated programs are essential to the function of the insights industry.