Chubb Offers Insurance Policy Against Internet Trolls To Britons
In what could be a first, you can now take insure yourself against cyber bullying. With the increase in online harassment and cyberbullying, an UK based insurance company has started offering its first cyber-bullying policy from cyber-bullying, claiming to cover the cost of professional help, time off work and even relocation for those who have fallen victims to online harassment. Cyberbullying is defined by the insurer as ‘three or more acts by the same person or group to harass, threaten or intimidate [paywalled] a customer.’
Chubb Insurance is offering Internet troll coverage, which will accept claims up to £50,000 coverage. The insurance policy that is aimed at wealthy policy holders seems extensive.
Chubb introduced the new policy following a survey conducted among its target audience and brokers. Tara Parchment, private clients manager for the UK and Ireland, explained that the troll insurance would aim to help customers re-establish their lives after suffering a cyber incident that has caused physical harm to their home or person.
“We wanted our policies to reflect the changing nature of the risks that policyholders may face, often against themselves rather than their possessions […] So we still help to restore homes, cars and belongings that have suffered physical harm or damage, but increasingly it’s about the person and how they cope,” she added.
While the new insurance policy is targeted at parents who are worried about their children’s online activities, adults who suffer harassment online will also be covered. For example, if an internet bullying campaign leads to the victim losing their job or their wrongful arrest. Chubb said that the money offered by the policy could be used to hire a reputation management team to clean up any online smears, or pay for a digital forensic specialist to trace the abuse.
The company has also rejigged its personal insurance policies to cover losses from mugging, and will also reimburse tuition fees if a student in the household withdraws from a course because of injury or death.
Recently a study by Vodafone/YouGov indicated that one in five teenagers had been a victim of cyberbullying. While one fifth of those affected missed school, an equal number experienced suicidal thoughts.
While there is no crime of cyber-bullying in UK, there have been numerous convictions for online harassment, including jail sentences last year for two Twitter users who barraged Caroline Criado-Perez with abuse over her campaign to keep famous women on British banknotes.
Some US insurers have started to offer homeowner insurance that would help the customer if someone in their house is sued for online harassment. However, Chubb’s insurance to support the victims, rather than alleged perpetrators, of cyber-bullying is thought to be the first of its kind.
Chubb customers will be able to opt in to the new troll insurance when renewing their policy from the 1st January 2016.
