Zurich Insurance Group has announced a new data protection commitment that includes a promise never to sell customers' personal data or to share personal data without being fully transparent, meaning customers always will be notified if their personal data is shared, and with whom.
Zurich added that any third party with whom Zurich does share personal data is bound by an enforceable contract that sets out how that personal data can be used.
In a statement, Zurich explained that this new commitment reflected the objectives of Zurich's sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to inspire confidence in a digital society. To help achieve this goal, Zurich also pledged to use data to do what is best for customers. For example, Zurich said, insights from the data will enable Zurich to provide services that help to prevent incidents, expanding the traditional protection offered by insurance. These include smart services for home protection, and to improve health and well-being, as well as travel insurance that keeps customers out of harm's way.
"In today's digital world, winning our customers' trust is dependent on cutting-edge cyber-security and transparent, market-leading data protection policies," said the group chief executive officer, Mario Greco. "For 150 years, customers have trusted Zurich to do the right thing, and with this new pledge, our approach to data commitment honors this trust with transparency around how we use customers' personal data."
The four promises to customers in Zurich's data pledge are to:
- Keep their data safe;
- Never sell their personal data;
- Not share their personal data without being transparent about it; and
- Put their data to work so Zurich can better protect them, and so they can get the most out of life.
Mr. Greco continued, "Our ambition is to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. No single actor can solve complex societal issues like globalization, digitalization, or climate change alone. To help manage the risks and benefit from the opportunities they present, we must take bold action. Our new data commitment is in line with this ambition. It goes to the heart of how we behave as a business, and we believe it is just the right thing to do."
Learn more: www.zurich.com.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].