Government affairs
Russian pollster ordered to register as a 'spy'
RUSSIA — Russia’s only independent polling agency, the Levada Centre, may be forced to close after Russian prosecutors ordered it to register as a ‘foreign agent’ – a term synonymous with being a spy.
US researchers urge delay to application data collection laws
US — American researchers have called on policymakers to hold off on legislation over mobile application privacy and data collection.
UK gov't to kick-off research roster review in July, says GPS
UK — The UK government’s long-delayed review of its market research roster, formerly managed by the now defunct Central Office of Information, is due to go ahead in July.
US budget threatens respondent incentives
US — American market researchers have warned that presidential budget proposals could potentially threaten research companies using respondent incentives.
Utah to sign disclosure bill for political polling
US — Utah State is creating a law that will require disclosure of a political poll’s sponsor – with potentially harmful knock-on effects for the research industry.
Government will look at chief social scientist role while seeing What Works
UK — The British government is considering creating the post of chief social scientist as part of wider efforts to investigate the effectiveness of public spending.
Manila survey companies seek delay on disclosure regs
Survey firms in Manila have appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to defer implementation of a resolution ordering the disclosure of subscribers.
Philippine election survey providers ordered to reveal subscribers
PHILIPPINES — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines has ordered all survey companies to name those financing election-related surveys.
Sri Lanka market researchers go for tax concessions
SRI LANKA — The Market Research Society of Sri Lanka (MRSSL) is going for tax concessions that were provided for the profession in the country’s 2013 budget.
Demographic data could be lost if Congress passes law, says MRA
US — The Marketing Research Association (MRA) has warned that valuable demographic data could be under threat if changes to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) go through Congress.
Washington State agrees not to class respondents as employees
US — Lobbying from the research industry has prevented the profession from having to treat respondents as employees in Washington State, US.