Insurance companies have started to use drone footage as a way to find reasons to cancel customers’ policies. They have drones, manned planes, and surveillance balloons that they can use to scout out properties. However, the images collected can sometimes be misleading or outdated, resulting in unfair policy cancellations.
One example of this is Cindy Picos, whose insurance provider used a drone to photograph her California home’s roof before deciding to drop her coverage. Even after an independent inspection confirmed that her roof was in good condition with another 10 years of life expectancy, the insurance company still stood by their decision based on the aerial photos that they refused to show her.
Despite the unsettling use of drones for surveillance, insurance companies are utilizing this technology in order to get a comprehensive view of the properties they insure. The Wall Street Journal reported that companies have access to drones, manned planes, and high-altitude balloons that provide coverage over a large area. However, there have been instances where customers were dropped due to outdated or misrepresented images captured by the surveillance technology.
While there are flaws in the system, the technology is advancing rapidly. The Journal reported that with the current rate of progression, properties could soon be monitored in high-definition on a daily basis. This raises concerns about privacy and the potential for insurance companies to make unfair decisions based on imperfect surveillance footage.
