Insurers are increasingly using technology to extract value from
large sets of data on customers - which can include tracking
customers' use of social media or even driving habits.
So far, the industry is using the data mining techniques in a
positive way, to develop new products and cut paperwork, the
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Wednesday following
feedback from the industry.
But it said insurers could find ways to differentiate between
customers to charge some customers more.
The FCA said it would not launch a market study, as concerns
about higher prices were "not yet materialising". But it said it
would look at pricing practices in a "limited number of firms"
in general insurance later in the year.
"The FCA will remain alert to the potential exclusion of higher
risk customers and will engage with government if concerns begin
to develop because of how firms are using Big Data," it said in
a statement.
(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
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