{
  "id": 2946858,
  "title": "Insurers have a lot of data about us. Where do they get it, and how do they use it?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/insurers-have-a-lot-of-data-about-us-where-do-they-get-it-and-how-do",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-24T04:24:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/insurers-have-a-lot-of-data-about-us-where-do-they-get-it-and-how-do-they-use-it-290053"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Insurers possess a wealth of personal data on policyholders, extending beyond the basic information provided on the application form. This includes details such as age, health, driving history, property information, claims history, and even behavioural and relationship data like payment frequency and policy duration. Moreover, insurers can access third-party data through sophisticated analysis of public sources and AI-powered tools. For instance, the UK's Resonate tool groups neighbourhoods based on factors like household composition and affluence, while other firms may aggregate non-traditional data such as web browsing activity and social media footprints.\n\nIn Australia, the Privacy Act regulates the handling of personal data, typically requiring consent or a recognized basis for its sale or sharing. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for re-identification of de-identified data and the risk of discrimination due to affinity profiling. The US Federal Trade Commission recently took action against General Motors for selling driver behavior and location data to third parties without proper consent. In Australia, insurers are exempt from certain anti-discrimination laws covering age, disability, and sex, allowing them to charge different prices based on actuarial or statistical data. However, this exemption does not extend to racial discrimination. Genetic testing data, for example, remains exempt, but a ban on insurers using adverse genetic results is set to take effect soon.\n\nThe increased use of data and AI in underwriting and pricing carries risks, such as proxy discrimination, where neutral factors like credit scores can indirectly correlate with protected attributes like race. Insurance pricing transparency also remains a challenge, with consumers often unaware of the key factors influencing premium calculations. Despite the potential benefits of sharper risk assessment and reward of healthy behavior, concerns surrounding unfair and opaque pricing practices and the erosion of privacy must not be overlooked.",
  "summary": "Your insurer could know a lot more than just what’s on your application form. It’s worth understanding where this information comes from and how it can be used.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}