Nov. 10, 2009 (Business Wire) -- User-generated content is taking many forms on today’s Internet. Whether consumers are posting product reviews to a company’s Web site, providing personally identifiable information to receive a special offer, or uploading photos to a social networking site, they’re sharing more information about themselves online, which creates both opportunities and liabilities for companies with access to this content. To help midsize and larger businesses address these emerging areas of risk, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has enhanced its flagship cyber liability policy.

“We’re seeing widespread adoption of social media technologies among businesses in virtually every industry. At the same time, data is becoming increasingly regulated, which is creating new exposures, particularly in the areas of data privacy and reputational risk,” said Drew Bartkiewicz, vice president of cyber and new media risk at The Hartford.

With CyberChoice 2.09, The Hartford now offers broader coverage for data privacy breaches and social media liability exposures, such as online defamation, advertising, libel and slander, by employees or casual users of a company’s Web site. CyberChoice 2.09 also defines the term “rogue employee” and provides coverage for such employee’s misuse of technology.

“Whether an employee’s act is intentional or negligent, the viral nature of the Internet means that errors leading to data breaches, defamation of a competitor or the improper use of intellectual property can quickly become very costly to repair,” said Bartkiewicz.

CyberChoice 2.09 offers businesses the ability to choose coverage based on their needs. Coverage options include:

• Data Privacy – with a broader definition that offers protection for data breaches by the company or third parties – such as vendors doing work on behalf of the company – involving the loss of personally identifiable information (PPI) or company confidential information. Coverage is also available for breach of data privacy laws involving citizens of European Union countries. Both notification and credit monitoring expenses are available in a single insuring agreement to give businesses greater flexibility in how they respond to data breaches.
• E-media and Internet Liability – which addresses online defamation, advertising, libel and slander-related exposures as well as emerging Web 2.0 liabilities created by casual users of a company’s Web site.