Privacy Policy

Introduction

The Global Consumer Research Initiative ("GCRI", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of research participants and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information.

GCRI operates as an independent research organization and maintains strict ethical standards for data protection in compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy regulations worldwide.

Information We Collect

Research Participants

When you participate in GCRI research studies, we may collect:

• Demographic information (age, gender, location, income level)
• Shopping behaviors and preferences
• Payment method usage
• Responses to survey questions
• Device and browser information for quality assurance

Website Visitors

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate location
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Referring website or source

Registered Users

If you create a researcher account, we collect:

• Name and email address
• Institution and professional affiliation
• Research interests
• Data access history

How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for:

• Research purposes: Analyzing consumer behavior patterns and publishing aggregated findings
• Quality assurance: Ensuring data validity and detecting fraudulent responses
• Communication: Sending study invitations and research updates (with consent)
• Website improvement: Understanding how visitors use our site to enhance user experience
• Legal compliance: Meeting regulatory and contractual obligations

Data Protection Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• Encryption: All data transmitted via SSL/TLS encryption
• Anonymization: Personal identifiers removed from research datasets
• Access controls: Restricted access to sensitive data
• Regular audits: Third-party security assessments
• Data minimization: We only collect what's necessary for research purposes

Data Sharing and Disclosure

GCRI does not sell or rent personal information. We may share aggregated, anonymized data with:

• Academic researchers (via our data commons)
• Policy makers and regulatory agencies
• Partner organizations (under strict data sharing agreements)

We may disclose personal information when required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of GCRI, our participants, or others.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to research integrity requirements)
• Restriction: Limit how we use your data
• Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Objection: Opt out of certain data uses
• Withdraw consent: Revoke consent for future participation

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@worldconsumerdata.org

International Data Transfers

As a global research organization, we may transfer data across borders. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and adequacy decisions as required by applicable law.

Children's Privacy

Our website and research studies are not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent and IRB approval.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or concerns: