I know that the FSA have introduced a specific rule forbidding insuring against their fines: this is because, although the law is unclear, it may be that it is unlawful to insure against a civil penalty (it is certainly unlawful to insure against a criminal penalty). I suspect that insurers and insured might not want to take the risk of entering into a policy that might not be enforceable. I don't know if ICO has pronounced on this?
This is what the FSA say:
"It is true that, for public policy reasons, a contract of insurance that purports to
insure against the risk or consequences of the insured being found liable for a
deliberate wrong is void and unenforceable. One cannot therefore enter into a binding
contract of insurance against a criminal fine. It might also be impossible (at common
law and for the same reasons) to validly insure against a civil fine, at least to the
extent that that fine is imposed for a deliberate, or fraudulent, act or omission.
However:
• there are no decided cases on the legality, in the United Kingdom, of insurance
against a civil fine;
• most of the academic texts suggest that the Courts would probably find that it is
possible to enter into a binding contract of insurance against the risk of receiving
a civil fine, at least to the extent that that fine is imposed for a negligent, or nonfraudulent,
act or omission; and
• even if it was not possible to enter into a binding contract of insurance, the only
risk that a firm would take, in purporting to do so, would be the risk that its
contract would be unenforceable. There are no other legal sanctions – unless, for
example, we could also show that in purporting to enter into such a contract, an
authorised firm had breached our rules"
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/policy/ps191.pdf
Jonathan Baines
Complaints and Information Rights Officer
Legal and Democratic Services
Buckinghamshire County Council
01296 383681
Follow us on twitter @buckscclegal
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lynn Wyeth
Sent: 13 January 2014 10:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] Insurance for data breaches
Has anyone had any experience of insurers refusing to cover for data breaches?
Our Council insurance covers us for costs, civil claims etc (but not fines), but some of our suppliers, especially just data processors, have come up against some barriers when trying to get insured recently.
Anyone any recommendation for smaller businesses that do such cover?
Thanks
Lynn
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