The Italian Data Protection Authority– GPDP- clarified through a decision currently being published in the Official Gazette that insurance companies must allow heirs, upon request, to access the names of beneficiaries indicated in life insurance policies taken out by deceased individuals.
The decision comes following numerous requests received by the Authority due to conflicting jurisprudential decisions.
However, access will not be unrestricted. Indeed, heirs wishing to become aware of the names must be identified as «heirs» or «called to the inheritance».
Secondly, it will be necessary to verify that the interest pursued by the person making the request is concrete and actual, thus existing at the time of the data request, preceding, or at least functional to their defense in legal proceedings.