Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and safeguard personal information — for clients, research participants, and website visitors alike.
Effective Date: 1 January 2026
Meraki Research (Pty) Ltd (“Meraki”, “we”, “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our clients, research participants, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable.
1. Information we collect
We collect personal information you provide directly to us, including your name, email address, phone number, company name, and any message content you submit through our contact forms. For research participants, we may collect additional information relevant to a specific study, always with informed consent.
We also collect technical information automatically through our website, including IP address, browser type, device type, referring URL, and pages visited. This is used for analytics and to improve our service.
2. How we use your information
- To respond to enquiries and provide the research services you request
- To send project updates and communications related to engagements in progress
- To comply with legal and regulatory obligations
- To improve our website, services, and client experience
3. Research participant data
Data collected from research participants is used only for the specific research objectives disclosed at the time of participation. Individual responses are kept confidential and are reported only in aggregate form unless explicit permission has been given to attribute responses.
4. Sharing your information
We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. We may share data with carefully vetted service providers (such as secure panel providers or transcription services) who are contractually bound to protect your information. We may also disclose information where legally required.
5. Data retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Research project data is typically retained for five years following project closure unless a longer retention period is specified in a client agreement.
6. Your rights
Under POPIA and GDPR you have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal information, and to object to its use. To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@merakiresearch.co.za.
7. Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse, including encrypted data storage, access controls, and regular security reviews.
8. Cookies
Our website uses cookies only for essential functionality and anonymised analytics. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of the page will be revised when changes are made. We encourage you to review the policy periodically.
10. Contact us
Questions or concerns about this policy? Contact our Information Officer at hello@merakiresearch.co.za or write to us at A 34 Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa.