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Privacy Policy |
Our Commitment to PrivacyORC International (ORC) is a global market research and marketing services organization committed to the privacy of participants in every survey project it conducts, regardless of the medium used for data collection. Whether through the Web, via telephone, or in paper-based format, ORC works tirelessly to safeguard our participants’ right to confidentiality, and to protect their personal information. ORC is in compliance with the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO)'s Code of Standards and Ethics for Survey Research, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR)'s Code of Professional Ethics and Practices, and the provisions of the ICC/ESOMAR International Code of Marketing and Social Research Practice. Below, we have outlined specific points regarding our commitment to privacy. This policy is reviewed regularly for content and pertinence, and is routinely revised to better serve the needs of our survey participants. Collection of InformationORC is contracted by a variety of companies to conduct business-related market research on a broad range of topics. During a typical survey, ORC may collect demographic data, information about hobbies and interests, and other consumer-related information germane to that specific project. Use of Participant InformationAll research reports resulting from ORC’s survey projects contain solely aggregate information, and no individual responses or personal information will be shown without the participant’s express written permission. Demographic information may be used to group participants, to ensure a representative population sample of the target audience, or to assist in extrapolating conclusions related to the survey scope. ORC uses personal and/or demographic information solely in the conduct of its research business. This information may be combined with additional data collected about participants by ORC or by third party vendors (with the participant's express permission), with information that is collected about the participant from public records, or with information that ORC may acquire from third party vendors that have a legal right to provide such information to ORC. Panel members will never be shared with any third party without the participant's express permission, except in such circumstance as we believe we are required to do so by law, in order to protect an individual or group's safety or our rights or property, or in order to comply with this policy or other applicable policies. In addition, ORC will occasionally share contact information, such as name and address, with third party vendors with whom we have partnered, in order to provide specific services to ORC, or services on behalf of ORC, such as panel recruitment, contest entry processing or delivery of free gifts to ORC Panel Members. These partners are under agreement with ORC not to share or resell this data and are contractually obligated against the use any personally identifiable information for any purpose other than the fulfillment of such services. ORC is an expanding business, and like other companies, we sometimes acquire or divest business units. As part of such transfers, we may convey the business assets of the particular business unit, including personal or demographic information. Children’s Privacy ORC believes that it is particularly important to safeguard the online
privacy of children, and encourages parents and guardians to spend time
online with their children, and to participate in and monitor their Internet
activity. ORC complies with all applicable national and international
children's privacy regulations, as well as with the Children’s Online
Privacy Protection Act of 1998. We do not permit children who are under
13 years of age to become ORC Panel Members or survey participants. We
do not collect any personal information from children under 13 years of
age. Occasionally we may invite an individual who is a parent or guardian
of a child under the age of 13 to participate in a survey that asks that
individual to have his or her child who is under 13 answer the survey.
We take reasonable steps to ensure parental consent to such procedures
by sending the survey invitation to the parent or guardian’s password-protected
E-mail address. The information collected in response to such surveys
is not combined with identifying information about the child. In every
case, said survey does not collect personal information about the child. Communication from ORCContact information, if collected, will only be used to communicate directly with the participant, should it be necessary. Types of communication a participant might expect to receive include:
Participants will only receive mailings from a third party or partner of ORC in the event that they have “opted-in” to receive such mailings. Participants may “opt-out” of mailings at any time. For more information about “opting-out,” please see the related section below. Opting-outParticipation in surveys conducted by ORC and receipt of mailings generated by ORC are entirely optional and at the discretion of the participant. If a participant wishes not to receive further communication via E-mail from ORC, he or she may “opt-out” by sending an E-mail message to opt-out@ORCInternational.com with the participant’s full name and E-mail address in the body of the message. Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE or SPAM)ORC firmly supports industry efforts to eliminate Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE or SPAM). It is against ORC’s policy to send UCE on our behalf or on behalf of our clients. ORC’s Unsolicited Commercial E-mail Policy can be viewed in its entirety at http://survey5.ORCInternational.com/orc/policies/uce.html. Security MeasuresORC has instituted security measures which protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of participant and proprietary information collected through our survey projects. Such security measures include, but are not limited to, the use of user ID’s and passwords for all participants when accessing survey projects, SSL implementation and certificate validation, IP restriction, and firewall protection. Vendors, contractors, or partners of ORC who have access to your personal information in connection with providing services for ORC are contractually required to keep the information confidential and are not permitted to use this information for any other purpose than to carry out the services which they have been contracted to perform. Changes to this PolicyORC will periodically review this policy, and may institute changes at any time as deemed appropriate by ORC’s policy review process. This page will be updated to reflect such modifications within 24 hours of the official policy change, and a notice will be posted on the ORC website. Interested parties may obtain a hard copy of this policy by sending an inquiry to the contact person listed below. By participating in an ORC survey, service, or program, the participant signifies his or her acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Privacy Statement. ComplaintsORC is committed to working with consumers to obtain a fair and rapid resolution of any complaints or disputes about privacy. Please send us your questions or comments regarding our privacy practices by emailing us at web.services@ORCInternational.com or send us a letter at the address listed below. ORC will be happy to respond to your questions and comments. Complaints may also be addressed to the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) by sending an E-mail to casro@casro.org, by calling (631) 928-6954, or by writing to:
ORC is a founding member of CASRO. Contacting ORC InternationalAll inquiries related to the content or implementation of this policy should be directed to:
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