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The Demographix Research Blog

Random thoughts from the team at demographix, keeping you up to date with what's new in the world of online research. Use the year and month links below to navigate the blog entries.

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November 2011 blog entries:

Cookie usage by Demographix

1 Nov 2011 — UK customers of Demographix involved in market research activities may find this clarification on the current status of the use of cookies, and the laws on sending unsolicited emails/texts, of some value.

Important changes to using cookies came into effect in May 2011, following changes in UK law brought about by amendments to the 2002 E-Privacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC).

The new requirement is that cookies can only be placed on machines where the user or subscriber has been given clear and accurate information about how the cookie will be used, and they have given their active consent by opting in.

We have been asked if Demographix uses cookies when it serves a survey. We do not use cookies at all on a standard Demographix survey. The only time we use them is for our special Poll surveys, available to Version 7 customers only, where we need to track if someone has already voted in a poll.

Where polls are integrated into iframes on websites, as they generally are, the use of cookies can be covered in the terms and conditions of the site.

The laws on unsolicited emails and texts remain unchanged. Unsolicited commercial emails (in other words, spam) and SMS text messages need an individual's prior and active agreement. That means you need an active opt-in from these recipients.

The exception to the rule is where the sender has a customer relationship with the recipient, and the email concerns other products and services and where the customer has not opted out.

Emails and SMS for research purposes are not defined as customer communications, and client organisations are permitted to hand on customer email addresses to market researchers (unless the customer has specifically opted out of such research). For non-research and mixed purpose projects (i.e. those containing a marketing element), the regulations will apply.

More information on cookies here

Further ICO information here

Market Research Society guidelines here

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