What happens to your digital life, if you die?
Most of us now live two lives, one in our actual world and the other in the virtual. When we die, our physical existence might come to an end, but the virtual presence lingers on. But what happens to all the content we have created online, our online accounts, our virtual transactions? What happens to stuff we have stored in the cloud and, unknowingly, in servers across the globe?
Blogs, photos, financial accounts
Like all creative products, literary writings, research notes, photographs, etc, that are created online will pass on to the legal heir of the deceased. There is, however, no specific law in India on this, but they are seen as intellectual property and treated likewise. Similarly, legal heirs have the right to access bank accounts and online records with, say, the Income Tax Department. Companies will have first right to stuff lying in official email services and servers.
Facebook
When a user passes away, Facebook gives their friends and relatives the option of memorialising their account to protect privacy. "Memorialising an account sets the account privacy so that only confirmed friends can see the profile (Timeline) or locate it in search. Friends and family can leave posts in remembrance. Memorialising an account also prevents anyone from logging into the account," says the Facebook blog. Facebook does not divulge the login details of the account to anyone, but "verified immediate family members" can request the removal of any Facebook account if they do not want to get it memorialised.
Google
Google has launched an inactive account manager feature that can be used as a digital will. Google is asking people what they want to happen to their digital photos, documents and other virtual belongings in case they die or become incapacitated. The Google Inactive Account Manager is not available for Google users with Google Apps accounts. Google says the service is is only available for Google accounts.
Yahoo
Email accounts of Yahoo are automatically deleted if it stays dormat for over four months. Yahoo will also close the account if a copy of the death certificate is emailed to cc-advoc@yahoo-inc.com.
... AND WHAT OTHERS DO
Microsoft-MSN
Account data on email or any other MSN service is transferred to legal heir after death if verified and preserved till that time.
eBay
All data of the user on the buy-sell website is deleted if death certificate is faxed to company.
LinkedIn
Account is closed if death verification form is filled.
Flickr
Account is terminated and photographs and content permanently deleted if copy of death certificate is provided.
Evernote
Evernote does not provide any details regarding the accounts of deceased users.
Foursquare
Foursquare does not provide any details regarding accounts of deceased users.
Orkut
Profile removed if death certificate is uploaded and an online form completed.
PayPal
If a death is reported, the account will be closed and a cheque made out to the account holder is issued to the legal heir.
Twitter
Account closed if request is received.
What happens to your digital life, if you die? Most of us now live two lives, one in our actual world and the other in the virtual. When we die, our physical existence might come to an end, but the virtual presence lingers on. But what happens to all the content we have created online, our online accounts, our virtual transactions? What happens to stuff we have stored in the cloud and, unknowingly, in servers across the globe? Blogs, photos, financial accounts Like all creative products, literary writings, research notes, photographs, etc, that are created online will pass on to the legal heir of the deceased. There is, however, no specific law in India on this, but they are seen as intellectual property and treated likewise. Similarly, legal heirs have the right to access bank accounts and online records with, say, the Income Tax Department. Companies will have first right to stuff lying in official email services and servers. Facebook When a user passes away, Facebook gives their friends and relatives the option of memorialising their account to protect privacy. "Memorialising an account sets the account privacy so that only confirmed friends can see the profile (Timeline) or locate it in search. Friends and family can leave posts in remembrance. Memorialising an account also prevents anyone from logging into the account," says the Facebook blog. Facebook does not divulge the login details of the account to anyone, but "verified immediate family members" can request the removal of any Facebook account if they do not want to get it memorialised. Google Google has launched an inactive account manager feature that can be used as a digital will. Google is asking people what they want to happen to their digital photos, documents and other virtual belongings in case they die or become incapacitated. The Google Inactive Account Manager is not available for Google users with Google Apps accounts. Google says the service is is only available for Google accounts. Yahoo Email accounts of Yahoo are automatically deleted if it stays dormat for over four months. Yahoo will also close the account if a copy of the death certificate is emailed to cc-advoc@yahoo-inc.com. ... AND WHAT OTHERS DO Microsoft-MSN Account data on email or any other MSN service is transferred to legal heir after death if verified and preserved till that time. eBay All data of the user on the buy-sell website is deleted if death certificate is faxed to company. LinkedIn Account is closed if death verification form is filled. Flickr Account is terminated and photographs and content permanently deleted if copy of death certificate is provided. Evernote Evernote does not provide any details regarding the accounts of deceased users. Foursquare Foursquare does not provide any details regarding accounts of deceased users. Orkut Profile removed if death certificate is uploaded and an online form completed. PayPal If a death is reported, the account will be closed and a cheque made out to the account holder is issued to the legal heir. Twitter Account closed if request is received.
