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Askable is a market research facilitation platform that operates globally. In this policy, ‘Askable’, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’, ‘ours’, refers to Askable Pty Ltd (ABN 72 621 754 096) and Askable Limited (Company Number 14417002).
Askable is committed to ensuring the fair and appropriate handling of your personal data.
This Privacy Policy explains how we handle your personal data, whether you are a client (aka: a corporate client conducting research), a prospective research participant, a certified +Researcher, an event attendee or you are simply reviewing what we have to offer.
Askable applies applicable data protection laws of the jurisdictions in which we are operating. Our approach to privacy includes meeting personal data handling requirements set out here.
Data protection laws guide how we collect and manage your personal data. Importantly, we:
Askable is a market research facilitation platform, accessible via the ‘askable.com’ and ‘plus.askable.com’ websites. In essence, we are matchmakers who find suitable participants for the research studies being conducted by our clients.
The platform has a number of functions:
Askable+ is a service offered by Askable to clients that choose to outsource their research functions. Askable provides generic research project services (e.g., surveys about whether a product would be of interest, preferences, likes or dislikes in the marketplace) and specific user experience testing research services.
Askable matches clients with certified researchers (+Researchers) for the purpose of undertaking client studies utilising Askable research tools, to provide the client with insights and recommendations. Askable requires that +Researchers conducting research on behalf of clients only use research information (including any personal data) for the purpose of conducting research studies for, and providing insights to, the client and not for any other purpose.
Askable collects and processes your personal data to provide our platform services.
How we collect and process personal data depends on our relationship with you. We either:
Where we act as a data controller, Askable uses personal data for the following purposes and under the lawful bases set out below. Askable will not use personal data for a purpose not related to its services or functions.
Legitimate interests
It is in our interest or your interest to process your personal data
(Anyone) To manage the functionality of our websites, i.e., through essential cookies
(Event attendee) To facilitate Askable events and manage your registration to an event
(Clients) To communicate and manage relationships with our prospective clients
(Participants) To provide you with information about our platform and services, including via social media
(Participants) To communicate with prospective participants who are exploring using our platform and services
(Participants) To identify participants that may be suitable for a client research study
(Participants) To communicate with you about upcoming research opportunities you may be interested in or about your scheduled research sessions
(Anyone) To protect our platform and services and detect security issues
(Anyone) To receive your query, process your rights request or investigate your complaint, and communicate with you about these
Consent
We ask you to agree to this. If you don’t agree… we don’t do it.
You can withdraw your consent at any time.
(Anyone) To analyse the usage of our websites and improve the platform and user experience, i.e., through non-essential cookies
Contract
Fulfilling our contract with you, as set out in the Terms, requires this.
(Participants, +Researchers) To register and manage your account with us and ensure secure sign in
(Participants) To add information to your account profile to assist us in matching you with our clients’ study opportunities
(+Researchers) To communicate with our +Researchers to facilitate the delivery of our Askable+ service
Where we act as a data processor, Askable processes personal data under the instruction of our clients. We may do this for purposes set out below.
Purpose
We register and manage client accounts and ensure secure sign in for client users
We communicate with our clients about the services we are providing to them
We screen participants for client research studies (using screening questions supplied by the client or our +Researchers)
We verify the accuracy of participant applications and responses to screening questions
We connect our clients with research participants
We connect our clients with our +Researchers
We set up research study session times
We facilitate communication between our clients (or +Researcher) and selected participants
We facilitate, record and transcribe virtual research sessions between the client facilitator (or +Researcher) and participants, where the client chooses to utilise the Askable Sessions tool (formerly Askable Live)
Personal data is information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. The types of personal data we collect and process depends on our relationship with you. We explain this below:
Analytics data - We collect and use analytics and cookie data collected from your use of the Askable platform. We collect this data from website visitors, clients, and participants.
Enquiries and chat data - When you contact us or use our chat function, we use your personal data to communicate with you and answer your enquiries.
Event attendee data - When you register and attend an Askable event.
Client registration data - As our clients are generally companies, personal data required for the registration of clients is generally limited to details of a company’s nominated contact person.
Participant registration data - We collect and process participant personal data to register participant accounts.
+Researcher registration data - We collect and process +Researcher personal data to register a +Researcher accounts.
Participant profile data - We collect and process personal data to build participant profiles and set participant preferences.
Screening Data- We collect and process participant personal data as part of the screening process for an upcoming research study.
Research study data - When participants undertake client studies – and the Askable platform facilitates – we collect and process this data to provide our agreed services to the client.
Video response data - When participants provide video responses to market research topics, we collect and process this data to provide our agreed services to the client.
Contact data - We collect and process this data to contact clients, +Researchers and participants about upcoming research study opportunities or scheduled studies.
Request for access or correction data - When you submit a rights request, Askable uses this data to process your request and communicate with you.
The following sections set out specific information on how we collect and process personal data that relates to:
Askable collects and processes your personal data in a number of instances, which have been set out below. We may share your personal data with our external service providers in some of these instances.
Analytics - When visiting our websites (askable.com or plus.askable.com), Askable collects data about your navigation of the website to help us monitor and improve our platform and your user experience.
The data collected and processed when you visit our website includes your:
Cookies - Our website also use cookies. A cookie is a small piece of data that our website asks your browser to store on your PC, laptop, smartphone or other devices. Cookies act like signposts, markers or tiny pieces of memory that enable us to give you the best experience possible when visiting our website.
You have the option to accept all, customise our use of or refuse these cookies. In some cases, the use of cookies by Askable will be necessary for your use of our website and disabling our ability to deploy them may prevent you from using our site with ease and using some portions of our services.
You can choose which cookies you wish to accept when you navigate to our site by following the prompts on the cookie banner. You will see this banner pop-up within moments of navigating to our site. As an alternative, if you wish to disable, delete, prevent or clear cookies, you can follow the instructions available on your web browser.
When you contact us or use our chat function, we use your personal data to communicate with you and provide you with information about our services. We may collect and use your name, email, phone number and enquiry details.
If you choose to respond to an offer that we make on our website or social media pages, we will collect some of your personal data, including your email, approximate location, the landing page ID, and the time you visited the page.
When you submit a rights request or submit a privacy complaint, Askable uses this data to process your request or investigate your concern and to communicate with you.
We collect and use your name, contact information and details regarding your request or concern.
Askable collects and processes your personal data in a number of instances, which have been set out below. We may share your personal data with our external service providers in some of these instances.
When you register and attend an Askable event, we may collect personal data about you to process your registration, facilitate and manage the event, and follow up with you after the event. The personal data that we collect may include:
As our clients are generally companies (and/ or corporations, organisations, government agencies), personal data collected from clients is usually limited to details of the nominated contact person, which we process in a number of circumstances, set out below. We will collect this information directly from you or from your employer (i.e., our client).
We may share personal data with our external service providers in some circumstances.
When you visit our client platform (app.askable.com), we collect analytics data including your device’s IP address, URL’s visited and the time and date you visited.
Clients can register an account with Askable. During registration, personal data collected from clients is generally limited to details of the client’s nominated contact person, including name, email and phone number.
When clients purchase credits with Askable, they will generally provide payment information of a company, as opposed to an individual. However, there may be limited circumstances where personal payment information is provided and processed by Askable for the purpose of purchasing credits (such as name on card, card type, and amount purchased). We do not knowingly receive payment information associated with a person; rather, we ask our clients to use their approved corporate payment facilities.
Askable collects and processes a client’s contact person’s email address when receiving email notifications.
Askable provides a virtual video conferencing tool that works in conjunction with other Askable products. The tool is referred to as Askable Sessions (formerly Askable Live). Clients can use the tool to conduct virtual research studies with their selected participants. Through Askable Sessions, we collect audio, visual recording, and transcriptions of the research session and the individuals involved in the research session.
Askable collects and processes +Researcher personal data in a number of instances, which have been set out below. We will collect this information directly from you.
We may share personal data with our external service providers in some circumstances.
When you visit our client platform (app.askable.com/researcher), we collect analytics data including your device’s IP address, URL’s visited and the time and date you visited.
When you register an account with Askable as a +Researcher, we collect and use a range of personal data to set up an account, including:
You may also choose to sign up using Google. If you choose to do this, Google will provide us with information from your social media profile, such as your name, email address, language preference, and profile picture.
Askable clients will be provided with your name, and details of your experience (including your previous employment) and qualifications as a certified researcher when you accept an offer to undertake a research project.
Askable provides a virtual video conferencing tool that works in conjunction with other Askable products. The tool is referred to as Askable Sessions (formerly Askable Live). +Researchers must use this tool to conduct virtual research studies with selected participants. Through Askable Sessions, we collect audio, visual recording, and transcriptions of the research session and the individuals involved in the research session.
We pay you when you complete research projects on behalf of our Clients! To receive payment, you will be required to send us an invoice. The personal data we collect and process in order to pay you includes:
We may contact you via a number of communication channels (such as email, phone or message). We may communicate with you in a range of circumstances, including when we notify you of potential research project that may suit you, provide communication from our clients, or remind you of upcoming study sessions. We collect and process your personal data when we communicate with you, including:
Askable collects and processes participant personal data in a number of instances, which have been set out below.
We generally collect this information directly from you. There are some circumstances, however, where you can choose to provide us with information from your Google or LinkedIn accounts (such as registration information or participant profile information).
We may share your personal data with our external service providers in some of these instances.
When you visit our participant platform (my.askable.com), we collect analytics data including your device’s IP address, URL’s visited and the date and time you visited.
When you register an account with Askable as a participant, we collect and use a range of personal data to set up an account, including:
You may also choose to sign up using Google. If you choose to do this, Google will provide us with information from your social media profile, such as your name, email address, language preference and profile picture.
Askable clients (or +Researchers conducting research on behalf of our clients) will be provided with your name, gender, age, suburb location and occupation status when you apply for a research opportunity with them. Our clients cannot access all of your information held by Askable, and instead are only provided details that are relevant to their research study.
Before our clients can select participants to complete their research study, they must request and be approved to hold an account with Askable and have purchased credits with Askable. Only then are our clients provided with your information for the purpose of selecting participants and conducting their research study.
Where +Researchers conduct research on behalf of our clients, Askable enters into arrangements with +Researchers to ensure they only use research information (including any personal data) for the purpose of conducting research studies, and not for any other purpose.
You can optionally provide us with additional profile details in your participant account. We collect and process these details to build your participant profile and set your preferences (e.g., the types of research opportunities you would like to be considered for).
You can provide the following additional personal data to build your participant profile:
Participants are able to connect to LinkedIn via the online participant account. Where requested by you, LinkedIn will provide Askable with details about you that are included in your LinkedIn profile.
When you apply for a research opportunity, our clients or +Researchers may be provided with certain information about you in addition to your name, gender, age, suburb location and occupation status as described above, where it relates to the type of participants required for the study (for example, whether you are working in a “profession”).
During the application process, you will be asked to answer a number of screening questions. The screening questions are provided by our clients or +Researchers in relation to the particular research studies they are conducting.
Your answers are used to assist our clients or +Researcher to narrow down the participant pool from which to select people to participate in a particular study. Askable does not use these answers to build a database of information about you; rather, the answers are held only in order to match you with the research opportunities our clients are seeking participants for.
Screening questions may include details about your:
Where we ask for personal data about you that is considered sensitive (i.e., special category data), we will generally ask for your permission first before we collect and use that information.
For quality assurance, it is important that all screening questions are answered by you to the greatest degree of accuracy (i.e., that you abide by our Terms by answering honestly and do not change your answers in order to appear to be a best-fit for the research opportunity). To facilitate this, we record your device’s screen when you are completing applications and answering the screening questions for each research opportunity.
As part of the application process, we also collect details regarding your availability to participate in each research opportunity.
Our clients or +Researchers will be provided with your answers to their screening questions, as well as your availability, for the purpose of selecting participants to participate in the research. Where a client chooses to auto-approve participants, where your responses to screening questions meet certain criteria, you will automatically be selected for the research study.
To participate in and complete research studies, you are required to provide details about yourself, including your opinions and preferences. The exact personal data that you are required to provide is dependent on the study being conducted and is determined by the client (or our +Researcher conducting the research on behalf of the client).
In some study projects you may be recorded, via audio or visual recording (or both), including when you participate in an interview or provide an opinion verbally.
When you participate in research, one of the following may occur:
In accordance with our Terms, all Askable clients must commit to fair and lawful personal data handling practices. All +Researchers must agree to only use research information (including personal data) for the purpose of conducting the research study.
Where the study is conducted and facilitated solely by a client, the client is responsible for the collection and processing of your personal data during the study.
Some clients may choose to use tools provided by third parties when completing studies (such as Survey Monkey or Validity). In this scenario, Askable is not involved in the collection or processing of personal data during the study. It is important that you consider how clients and any non-Askable tools or services will handle your personal data before participating in these studies.
When clients (or our +Researchers) choose to use the Askable Sessions (formerly Askable Live) tool to facilitate a research study, Askable will process and store your personal data during the study on behalf of the client. Askable Sessions is a web conferencing tool provided by Askable that facilitates and records virtual interviews. Askable records and stores the Askable Sessions recordings (including audio and visual recordings) and transcripts of sessions, and makes them available to the client conducting the research study.
Askable will not provide your personal data collected during studies facilitated via the Askable Sessions tool to any other entity. Askable does not have control, however, of how the client conducting the study will use and disclose your personal data. It is important that you consider this prior to participating in research studies.
We pay you when you participate in research studies! We call this an incentive payment. The personal data we collect and process in order to pay you includes:
We may contact you in a number of circumstances, including when we notify you of potential research opportunities, provide communication from our clients, or remind you of your upcoming study sessions. We collect and process your personal data when we communicate with you, including:
The nature of our business means that we are unable to provide our market research services anonymously.
We do not provide our services to children under the age of 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with their personal data, we will immediately delete their data. If you are a parent or guardian and become aware that your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so that we can securely destroy their data.
Children aged less than 18 years, but who are at least 13 years, are able to create an account and use the Askable platform provided that a parent or legal guardian agrees to supervise them in doing so. For more information see our Terms here.
Clients may require parents or legal guardians to enter into an agreement with them directly, where their research involves the collection and processing of personal data of children aged between 13 and 18 years.
To clients: Where participants choose to participate in research studies (or where +Researchers choose to complete research projects on behalf of our clients), Askable shares participant (or +Researcher) personal data with clients that have an account with us via the Askable platform.
Askable does not control how personal data collected by our clients (i.e., during a research study) may be used or disclosed. Your personal data (including video and voice recordings) may be published, reproduced or stored by our clients. It is important that you consider how your personal data may be handled by clients by reading their privacy policies and any collection notices associated with their studies.
Our service providers: Askable uses external parties (i.e., service providers) to provide services and functions on our behalf. For our service providers to provide these services, we may share personal data that relates to the services being provided, or they may collect the information on our behalf. We have contractual arrangements in place with all service providers that include strict privacy, security and data breach reporting controls. We also take steps to ensure that service providers only process personal data for the purposes it was provided to them, and not for any other purpose. A full list of our service providers is available on request.
Other sharing: Askable will not sell or otherwise share your personal data with advertisers, sponsors, content providers or anyone else – unless:
Askable will only store your personal data in electronic format, either on-site or in ‘the cloud’.
Askable uses a cloud storage service provider, MongoDB, to store personal data, including your registration data, purchase or payment data, communications data, profile data and data from study sessions including recorded video responses. This information is stored on a server located in Sydney, Australia.
Askable also uses other third party service providers to store specific types of personal data (such as payment processing data, email and communications data). The personal data stored by third party providers, relates to their functions and services. A full list of our service providers is available on request.
At Askable, we securely manage and dispose of personal data, by implementing a range of data security practices, including (but not limited to):
Protection of personal data from unauthorised access and disclosure is a priority for us. Any concerns about the security of personal data held by Askable should be reported to us without delay via security@askable.com
We retain your personal data for differing periods, depending on the purpose for which it was collected. We will only keep your personal data for the periods set out below, before your personal data is securely destroyed:
Clients
+Researchers
Participants
General
In the event you would like your personal data to be completely removed from the Askable platform (and not just a deletion of your account), you can request us to delete your data at any time. Deletion may not occur instantly, as we will require time to delete your data from our backups and from any of our platform service provider locations. Further, we may not be able to delete some of your personal data if a law requires us to retain the information for a certain period.
If you would like us to delete the personal data we hold about you, please contact us using our contact information set out below.
Askable maintains a number of social media accounts (including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Google), for the purposes of:
Social media platforms generally apply their own privacy policies to any personal data that is captured or shared while on their sites. As such, you may prefer to deal with us directly via askable.com, and not via socials, when sharing your personal data.
We support your ability to exercise rights regarding your personal data held by us, including:
Right to access
The right to access your personal data held by us
Right to correct
The right to seek correction of your personal data where you consider it is incorrect, incomplete, misleading or out-of-date
Right of erasure
The right to require Askable to delete all personal data held about you
Right to object
The right to object at any time to certain types of processing of your personal data
Right to data portability
The right to receive the personal data Askable holds about you in an accessible format.
Right to restrict processing
In certain circumstances, you have the right to obtain a restriction on the processing of your personal data
If we hold personal data about you, we are happy to tell you what it is. We will not, however, tell someone else what personal data we hold about you (unless you permit us or there is a lawful ability or requirement for us to do so). As such, we may require you to verify your identity.
You can contact us to make a rights request – that is, to request access to your personal data held by us, request a correction of your personal data or to ask us to act in relation to your other rights set out above.
If you would like to submit a rights request, please contact us using our contact information set out below. We will get back to your request in 1 to 3 business days.
We will update this document from time to time to ensure that our personal data handling practices are correctly reflected. This may occur without notice, however we will always post a ‘last revised’ date for your information.
If updates could potentially impact you, we will generally make these changes known to you by providing a notice on our website at your next login.
If you have a question about our Privacy Policy or a concern or complaint about our personal data handling practices, please get in touch with us! You can contact us using our contact information set out below.
We will confirm receipt of your questions or complaint within 24 hours. In most cases, we will be able to assist you immediately, however, there are some circumstances where we may need additional time to respond to you (such as where additional details are needed to understand your concern or investigate the matter).
If you have made a privacy complaint and are not happy with our response to your concerns, you are able to lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority relevant to you, as set out below:
Please contact us at:
Australia and New Zealand
If you are a resident in Australia or New Zealand, please contact our Chief Privacy Officer at:
Email: privacy@askable.com
Phone: +61 7 3040 4719
Mail: Chief Privacy Officer
Askable Pty Ltd
Level 1 South, Heritage Building
61 Petrie Terrace
Brisbane QLD 4000
United Kingdom
If you are a resident in the UK, please contact our local UK representative, the UK Data Protection Officer, at:
Email: dpo@askable.com
Mail: UK Data Protection Officer
10 John Street
London WC1N 2EB
A note about international transfers: Askable operates its platform and services globally, providing services to clients and participants from a number of countries. As such, we need to share information that we collect outside of the jurisdiction it was collected from. This may include transfers to jurisdictions where our Askable offices and third party service providers are located, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
When transferring information outside of the United Kingdom, Askable applies appropriate safeguards (i.e., we undertake transfer risk assessments, and enter into agreements incorporating standard data protection clauses including EU Standard Contractual Clauses and UK International Data Transfer Addendum).
Last revised: February 2024