Ecuador’s Organic Law on the Protection of Personal Data, now fully in force, will significantly impact the insurance sector in 2026. As the national data authority begins active enforcement, insurers will face growing scrutiny over how they collect, store, and process sensitive data - particularly health, biometric and financial information. Non-compliance may lead to reputational damage, fines and regulatory injunctions. Insurers will need to update consent frameworks, automate access requests, and implement robust breach response protocols. Additionally, cross-border data transfers, common in reinsurance and regional claims handling, will require new contractual safeguards.

Ecuador’s rapid adoption of mobile wallets like Bimo and DeUna! will drive insurers to embed microinsurance and personal accident coverage into digital payment flows in 2026. These embedded offerings, tied to transactions or account balances, will expand protection for underserved populations. However, regulators will face pressure to adapt consumer protection rules, ensure fair disclosure, and define the roles of fintech platforms in distribution. Legal clarity on licensing, data sharing, and cross-border transactions will be crucial. This convergence of finance and insurance marks a shift toward more inclusive, tech-enabled coverage models.

With Ecuador phasing out fuel and transport subsidies, operating costs will rise sharply for logistics, agriculture, and retail sectors. As margins shrink, credit defaults - especially among SMEs - are expected to increase. In response, suppliers will increasingly turn to credit insurance. This will prompt legal scrutiny of policy exclusions, waiting periods, and subrogation rights. Insurers will need to reassess credit scoring models and adapt terms to higher volatility. Regulatory clarity on credit insurance disclosures and claims processes will be critical to ensure market confidence and fair dispute resolution.

By 2026, all financial institutions in Ecuador will be required to comply with mandatory cybersecurity standards. The regulator is aligning local regulation with international norms, imposing obligations on data protection, technology risk management, business continuity plans, and cyber incident reporting. This rule will encourage banks and insurers to adopt cyber insurance, strengthening the financial system’s resilience against digital attacks and ensuring the continuity of critical operations. The measure demonstrates a regulatory commitment to technological stability and market trust.

In Ecuador, the use of satellite imagery will become standard for verifying agricultural insurance claims, especially in parametric policies. This technology enables validation of climate events like droughts or floods, speeds up payouts, and reduces fraud. Insurers will need clear frameworks on data privacy and collaboration with technology providers. Initiatives such as CampoSeguro indicate that Ecuador is following the global trend toward agricultural digitalisation, combining operational efficiency and transparency for both farmers and insurers.