Prof Tanner, LEIZ, keynote speaker at Big Data Conference Zurich
The flood of new data has the potential to shake up the insurance sector. Together with reinsurer Swiss Re, researchers at the University of Zurich, Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin, Friedrichshafen and the University of Applied Sciences HTW Chur are investigating the ethical and legal challenges presented by Big Data.
Specialists from the fields of ethics, management science, psychology, law and sociology were working together on this project with insurance actors. Goals were: to analyse which values play a role in Big Data applications and looking at how to handle conflicts of value and manage decision-making processes; to examine to what extent developers of Big Data applications take ethical aspects into account. Finally, they compare the regulatory environment in Switzerland with that of the US and identify any gaps in legislation.
Aim
The present project consists of three stages that examine the ethical and legal questions posed by the use of Big Data in the insurance industry: Researchers have been establishing whether moral values such as fairness, freedom, equality and the protection of personal rights are impacted by Big Data and to what extent the decision makers and developers behind Big Data applications factor in these values. Secondly, it has been examined whether legislation and regulations are fit to address the challenges ahead and whether any adjustments – e.g. a weakening of the principle of data economy – can be ethically justified. Finally, we will propose a Big Data handling standard for the insurance sector.
Relevance/Application
The findings will allow policymakers and authorities to objectively address the Big Data challenges facing insurers. An industry standard could serve as a form of self-regulation to help the insurance community recognise ethically sensitive applications early on and either adapt them accordingly or opt not to develop them. The project’s bottom line: to pave the way for Big Data innovations which are both ethically justified and legally foreseeable.
http://www.nfp75.ch/SiteCollectionDocuments/NFP75-Website-Publikation-Christen.pdf
Veranstaltungshinweis in diesem Zusammenhang:
https://www.zu.de/veranstaltungen/2019/jahreskonferenz-bodensee-innovationscluster.php
LEIZ-Communication Management
contact: evelyn.pachta@zu.de
Big Data Conference
Swiss National Research Programme
Background
Risk calculations for insurance premiums are based on data. There has been huge growth in the range and volume of electronic data from sources such as tachographs and fitness trackers. This makes it possible to personalise insurance policies to a greater extent. But does it also undermine solidarity as a fundamental value of insurance? The use of non-insurance data is causing upheaval in the insurance sector and raising questions of data protection.
Project Leaders
PD Dr. Markus Christen, Institut für Biomedizinische Ethik und Medizingeschichte (IBME), Universität Zürich
Prof. Dr. Florent Thouvenin, Rechtswissenschaftliches Institut, Universität Zürich
Prof. Dr. Christian Hauser, Departement Entrepreneurial Management, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft HTW Chur
Keynote Speaker among others:
Prof Dr Carmen Tanner for Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin, Friedrichshafen and University of Zurich