IRDA asks insurers to clamp down on staff’s social media posts

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The insurance sector regulator, Irdai has asked insurers to lay guidelines for their staff for social media information. It has asked them to ensure that no unverified or confidential information relating to the organisation is disseminated to the public through these platforms.

An organisation’s reputation is closely linked to the behaviour of its employees, Irda said, adding “Social media should be used in a way that adds value to the organisation’s business”.

“No form of critique or comment on an Organisation or its business should be made on personal websites or social networking platforms,” said the section on guidelines for the usage of social media by employees for personal purposes.

“Any information received, accessed or obtained by an employee, either in his/her official mail/personal mail/Media Forums or in any other manner, if proposed to be disseminated or shared in any Media Forum, should be forwarded to the Organisation’s Compliance team and corporate communication team for prior approval,” it said.

Media forums should not be used to report a service fault or to make a complaint, it added. The regulator said the personal posts on social media should carry a disclaimer saying ‘the postings on this service are my own personal views and not those of organisation and are not intended to be interpreted as such’.

The personal image projected in social media affects an individual’s reputation and may affect the reputation of organisation as well, IRDA said.

Information assets comprise data or information recorded in electronic, printed, written, facsimile or other systems and the ‘system’ itself. The guidelines are applicable to all insurers, including foreign re-insurance branches (FRBs) and insurance intermediaries regulated by the Irdai.

(With inputs from PTI)