Privacy Policy

Late Update: 7th March 2026​

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Real World Labs (“we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data when you visit our website, contact us, or participate in our research activities.

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This policy applies to information collected through the Real World Labs website and through interactions with us in connection with our research and professional activities.

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Real World Labs operates in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

 

Who we are

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Real World Labs is an independent research organisation that conducts studies exploring people’s experiences, perspectives, and views on a range of social and public interest topics. Our work may involve qualitative research methods such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, and digital ethnography studies using smartphone-based research platforms.

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For the purposes of data protection law, Real World Labs acts as the Data Controller for personal information collected through our website and research activities.

 

Our contact details

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Data Privacy Officer: Sandeep Bagga
Address: 3rd Floor, 45 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 5JL
Email: info@realworldlabs.ai

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What information we collect

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Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect and process the following types of personal information:

Personal identifiers such as your name, date of birth, photographs, screenshots, video recordings or screen recordings.

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• Contact information such as your email address, telephone number, postal address, or links to social media profiles.

• Communication information such as records of emails, phone calls, messages, or other correspondence with us.

• Research data generated through participation in studies, which may include written responses, video or audio recordings, photographs, screenshots, screen recordings, or other reflections shared during research activities.

• Special category data where relevant to a research project, which may include information relating to health, ethnicity, beliefs, or other sensitive characteristics.

• Technical information collected through our website such as IP address, browser type, pages visited, and patterns of website use.

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How we collect information

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We may collect personal information in several ways.

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Information may be provided directly by you when you contact us, submit an enquiry through our website, participate in a research study, attend an event where we are present, or express interest in working with or for our organisation.

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We may also collect limited information automatically when you use our website, such as technical data relating to how the site is accessed and used.

 

In some cases, information may also be available from publicly accessible sources such as professional networking platforms or social media sites.

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How we use your information

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We use personal information for a number of purposes consistent with our research and professional activities. These include responding to enquiries, communicating with individuals who are interested in our work, and managing relationships with collaborators, partners, and research participants.

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Where individuals participate in research studies, information is used to conduct and manage the research project, analyse findings, and produce reports, academic outputs, or other forms of research publication.

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We may also use information to provide updates about our work, share research insights or thought leadership, and improve the content and functionality of our website.

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Legal basis for processing

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Under UK GDPR we rely on several lawful bases for processing personal information.

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Where individuals participate in research activities, processing is typically based on consent.

 

In other circumstances we may rely on contractual necessity, legitimate interests in operating and developing our organisation, or legal obligations that apply to our business activities.

 

Individuals may withdraw their consent at any time where consent is the basis for processing.

 

Sharing information

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We do not sell personal information.

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In certain circumstances personal data may be shared with trusted service providers or partners who support our operations, such as technology providers, communication platforms, payment processors, or professional advisers.

 

Information may also be shared where this is necessary to comply with legal obligations, regulatory requirements, or contractual responsibilities.

 

If Real World Labs were to merge with or be acquired by another organisation, personal data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

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How we store and protect personal information

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Personal information is stored securely and access is restricted to authorised individuals who require it for legitimate business or research purposes.

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We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, misuse, loss, or disclosure.

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Information is retained only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including research integrity, legal obligations, and legitimate operational needs (typically 5 years).

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Your data protection rights

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Under UK data protection law, you have several rights in relation to your personal information.

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You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you, to ask us to correct inaccurate information, and in certain circumstances to request that personal information be deleted.

 

You may also request restrictions on processing, object to certain types of processing, or request that your data be transferred to another organisation.

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If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided above. We will normally respond within one month.

 

How to complain

 

If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, you may contact us at info@realworldlabs.ai.

 

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s independent authority for data protection matters.

 

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Website: https://www.ico.org.uk

 

Changes to this policy

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We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on our website.