Privacy Policy

 At Arbittier Opinion Panel Systems (AOPs), we are committed to protecting the privacy and integrity of all data entrusted to us. As a healthcare-focused, first-party data collection firm, we operate with the highest standards of security, compliance, and transparency—ensuring our clients, respondents, and partners are protected throughout the research lifecycle.

This Privacy Policy outlines how AOPs collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards information in connection with our data collection services provided to healthcare market research agencies and their clients.

1. Purpose and Scope
This policy applies to all data collected and processed in connection with AOPs’ services, including recruitment coordination, third-party anonymous panel integration, survey execution, data validation, and delivery of aggregated insights for research purposes only. It does not cover consumer-facing panel enrollment, as AOPs does not operate a direct-to-respondent research community.

2. Data We Process
We may process the following types of data:

• Business contact information of client personnel
• Operational metadata related to survey execution (e.g., timestamps, invite metrics, device/browser types)
• Responses collected during survey fielding, typically de-identified and/or pseudonymized
• Technical data used to ensure fraud protection, QA monitoring, and system performance
• Where personal data is processed, we pseudonymize or de-identify it where possible, and limit access strictly to those with a legitimate research purpose.

All data processing is performed in accordance with applicable regulations and client contracts.

3. Use of Data
AOPs uses collected data to:

• Deliver contracted market research services
• Conduct quality assurance and validation checks
• Prevent duplicate or fraudulent participation
• Support analytics, feasibility modeling, and performance benchmarking

We do not sell, lease, or share personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Data Security and Integrity
We apply industry-standard security protocols to protect data, including:

• Secure transmission and encrypted storage
• Role-based access controls
• Continuous system monitoring
• Regular internal audits and third-party assessments

Our infrastructure is designed to ensure data is clean, compliant, and reliable at every stage.

5. For Market Research Participants: We operate under the principles of informed consent and voluntary participation, in alignment with the Insights Association Code of Standards and Intellus guidelines. We never knowingly involve participants in studies without their clear and documented agreement.

Your participation in this research is subject to the privacy policy of the community that invited you. Please refer to their policy for details on how your data is handled in connection with this study.

All data collected through AOPs-managed research is based on active, informed consent, in compliance with industry and legal standards. We ensure that participants understand what data is being collected, for what purpose, and under what conditions

AOPs respects the rights of all research participants and follows ethical practices to ensure participation is voluntary, informed, and respectful. Participants have the right to: 

• Decline or withdraw from a study at any time without penalty
• Request access to, correction, or deletion of their data where applicable
• Be informed about how their data will be used and stored
• Participate only after providing informed consent

We do not collect sensitive personal health information unless specifically required by the research, and in such rare cases, we obtain explicit consent and ensure additional security safeguards are in place.

We strive to make our research and privacy communications accessible to all participants. Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect data from minors.

6. Third-Party Service Providers

We may engage trusted third-party vendors for technology support, QA, or data processing. All such vendors are contractually bound to maintain confidentiality, comply with applicable privacy laws, and only use data as instructed.

All service providers undergo due diligence reviews to ensure they meet AOPs’ security, confidentiality, and compliance standards. We do not authorize subcontractors to use participant data for any purpose beyond the scope of the study.

7. Regulatory Compliance

AOPs complies with all applicable privacy and data protection regulations, including:

• HIPAA (where applicable)
• GDPR (for EU-based data)
• CCPA and other U.S. state-level regulations

We support data subject rights, including access, correction, and deletion requests, when applicable and permissible.

AOPs adheres to the ethical codes and best practices defined by the Insights Association, Intellus Worldwide, and other relevant industry bodies.

8. Data Retention
We retain data only as long as necessary to fulfill contractual obligations, support quality assurance, or comply with legal requirements. When no longer needed, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

9. Commitment to Data Quality
AOPs is committed to delivering only clean, complete, and compliant first-party data. Our data quality processes include multi-layered fraud detection, validation of participant eligibility, active monitoring of response patterns, and ongoing audits. We follow the Global Data Quality Pledge and uphold ethical recruitment, transparent methodologies, and responsible use of AI in fieldwork execution. We proactively educate our partners and clients about industry best practices and continuously review our quality standards to align with evolving guidance from the Insights Association, Intellus Worldwide, and related governing bodies.

AOPs upholds the highest standards for data quality and ethical research practices, as defined by our membership in the Insights Association, and Intellus Worldwide. Specifically, we commit to the Global Data Quality Pledge:

• Transparency in methodology
• Validation of respondent eligibility
• Ethical incentives and consent practices
• Full compliance with all client and regulatory requirements

10. Updates to This Policy
We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our operations or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date.

11. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact:

AOPs – Arbittier Opinion Panel Systems
2 E 28 th ST – Suite 102
New York, NY 10016
845-598-4300
privacy@aops.us