Articles

26Aug

FDA Responds to MRA on Confidentiality of Respondent Data in Marketing Research

AUTHOR: LATOYA LANG

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responded to MRA on our concerns regarding the confidentiality of marketing research data.

"FDA appreciates the concerns raised by MRA, and agrees with the importance of protecting the confidentiality of personal privacy information, including personally identifiable information, of those persons who participate in consumer surveys or other marketing research. Similarly, FDA understands the importance of protecting confidential commercial information, including trade secret and proprietary information."

MRA had contacted the FDA regarding the agency's sweeping demands for marketing research documents from Phillip Morris USA, Inc. to share our concerns about the need to keep respondents' personal information private and not jeopardize the research process or research trade secrets.

Read the FDA's response.

About the Author

Howard Fienberg

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.