Your Facebook profile displays: “thank you all for this evening despite this hangover this morning”. Problem, you’re supposed to be on sick leave for a terrible flu that left you bedridden. Whoops. If you were in Italy, this kind of clumsiness could cost you dearly. Health Insurance does not hesitate to cross-check the information transmitted by its users with that posted on social networks. This system set up two years ago has largely proven itself because it has made it possible to flush out thousands of frauds. The Italian authorities are pleased with the financial windfall harvested thanks to Big Data (in reference to Big Brother?), the name given to this activity of analyzing and targeting internal data and present on the Web.
Common in the banking sector, Big Data has burst into the health market thanks to the American firm Teradata, which specializes in mass data processing, reports Challenges.fr. “The INPS (the Italian Social Security) has completely reorganized its services of 1,400 agents dedicated to the fight against fraud, at the same time as it has crossed its data with those available on social networks”, explains Patrice Bouëxel the director from the health division of Teradata France, quoted by Challenges.fr.
Soon in France ?
We understand that Teradata is also established in France but it does not yet interest the French Social Security. “France will come there”, assures Patrice Bouëxel. If his prediction comes true, then it will be possible tospy on facebook statuses audiences of unscrupulous Internet users to verify their good faith and punish those who take bogus sick leave.
This prospect should entice the Secu, eager to control the spike in sick leave and reduce its deficit.