The Guardian view on big data and insurance: knowing too much | Editorial

Insurance depends on the pooling of risk but big data may drain that poolIs it reasonable for life insurance companies to demand that their customers try to get fit? Reasonable or not, it is already happening. John Hancock, one of the oldest life insurance companies in the US, announced last week that it would in future only write policies that offer rewards for customers who use various forms of fitness trackers or join gyms. Similar offers are available in Britain, where 1.1 million people hav