Our privacy principles

Privacy information

In an industry where trust in data is paramount, NielsenIQ (NIQ) proactively and strategically approaches its data processing practices with a clear focus toward privacy and data protection. When it comes to personal data, NIQ not only recognizes its legal obligations, it also prioritizes individuals’ best interests by committing to responsible and ethical data stewardship, promoting fair and transparent data practices.

To further enhance its commitment to data ethics, NIQ continuously explores the integration of emerging technologies to refine its methodologies and ensure the delivery of high-quality insights to clients. This forward-thinking approach allows NIQ to remain adaptable to the evolving demands of the data landscape while fostering strategic partnerships that enhance its capabilities. The company’s investment in cutting-edge tools and technologies not only strengthens operational efficiency but also reinforces its mission to empower businesses with actionable intelligence, creating a robust foundation for informed decision-making across industries.

By embedding privacy into every stage of data management, NIQ demonstrates a deep commitment to ethical stewardship and transparency, ensuring that all personal data is handled responsibly and securely.

This Privacy Principles Statement is provided by the NIQ Group of companies worldwide. For more information, see the Privacy Information sidebar. NIQ’s Privacy Principles include the following:

Lawful and fair processing

Many privacy laws require companies to have a lawful basis for processing personal data. NIQ’s primary bases for processing such data are:

Performance of a contract: We operate research panels and conduct surveys based on contracts with our subjects, often covering entire households to analyze data at that level.

Consent: We may seek consent directly from individuals or rely on consent obtained by a data controller when acting as a service provider.

Legitimate Interests: Sometimes we process data for our legitimate interests in conducting market research to improve client efficiency. We ensure that this is balanced with strong privacy protections to minimize risks.

Limited collection, storage, and use

We obtain limited personal data directly from the data subject, automatically from users of our websites, mobile applications, and platforms, as well as from third parties. We restrict the collection, storage, and use of personal data to what is essential for legitimate business needs, ensuring that access to this data is granted only to qualified individuals with a valid purpose. We check third parties’ data collection practices and privacy statements to ensure our use of the data aligns with their commitments to individuals.

When we disclose personal data, we take contractual, technical, and organizational measures that are designed to limit the recipients’ use to specific purposes that are consistent with our practices and in accordance with applicable law.

We retain personal data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in our privacy notices, or to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Our data retention period reflects several factors, including our relationship with users of our services, the nature and sensitivity of personal data, and what is reasonably necessary and proportionate to provide and improve our products and services.

We maintain a comprehensive information security program with multi-layered administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of personal data. NIQ’s global organization of data security professionals routinely conduct system tests and update our controls to keep pace with evolving technology and security threats.

Data minimization

We prioritize data minimization by collecting only the personal data necessary to derive meaningful and accurate measurements and insights, deliver our products and services, and enhance our offerings. We regularly deidentify or aggregate personal data to ensure it is no longer considered personal data. Once deidentified, we implement strict technical and organizational measures to prevent reidentification and ensure that third parties adhere to the same non-reidentification commitments.

Data integrity by design

We are dedicated to ensuring that the personal data we collect is consistently complete, accurate, relevant, and up to date. Our ongoing efforts include implementing rigorous data validation processes and regular audits to maintain the highest standards of data quality and integrity.

Our internal policies, procedures, and practices incorporate the principles of: Privacy by Design, a commitment to embed appropriate privacy protections in the design and implementation of our products and services, and Privacy by Default, ensuring that the strictest privacy settings are applied automatically without requiring any action from individuals.

Meaningful notice and choice

We implement user-friendly privacy controls that are both accessible and easy to use. We are committed to the responsible management of data and continuously strive to enhance our practices, maintaining a high standard within our industries.

We provide transparent notifications regarding the data we collect and its intended use. We offer options for data collection that correspond to the context and sensitivity of the information being gathered. Our panelists and survey respondents consent to the collection and processing of their data, with the freedom to withdraw at any time. Additionally, individuals can opt out of our online and mobile data collection whenever they choose.

We support and facilitate the exercise of privacy rights and choices. Individuals may request or assert any of their privacy rights by following the directions in their privacy notice or by selecting Your Privacy Rights from the footer of our websites or contacting us via email: connect.privacy@nielseniq.com.

Should an individual believe their privacy rights have been violated, we encourage them to reach out to us or the appropriate supervisory authority. NIQ does not discriminate against individuals who exercise their rights under applicable law.

Individuals dissatisfied with NIQ’s handling of personal data or any privacy-related inquiries or requests they have submitted have the right to file a complaint with the supervisory authority in their country of residence or where the issue in question occurred. The contact information for all EU national supervisory authorities is available at EU National Data Protection Authorities.

Trust and accountability

We are dedicated to the responsible management of data under our control and to adhering to all relevant data privacy laws. NIQ invests in educating its employees and partners about data protection practices, fostering a culture of responsibility and transparency across every level of the organization. These measures highlight NIQ’s commitment to maintaining data integrity and reinforce the trust of our clients and stakeholders, thereby ensuring long-term value and confidence in NIQ’s data solutions.

Global reach, local touch

We are committed to respecting the diverse cultures and local laws of the countries in which we operate. If you have any feedback regarding this Privacy Principles Statement or our data privacy practices, you may contact us in the following ways:

Webform	Your Privacy Rights
Email	connect.privacy@nielseniq.com
Data Controller	Nielsen Consumer LLC
U.S. Postal Mail	NielsenIQ 200 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60606, USA Attn: Legal Dept.
EU Postal Mail	GfK GmbH, an NIQ company Sophie-Germain-Str. 3-5, 90443 Nuremberg, Germany Attn: Legal Dept.
Data Protection Officer	HewardMills Ltd. 77 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JU, United Kingdom Attn: Dyann Heward-Mills niq@hewardmills.com +44 (0)20 4540 5853