Who owns your online photo album after you die?
The ease with which we can add tons of data to online storage solutions means that in a few years’ time a person can build a substantial legacy on the internet. Photos, videos, texts, etc accumulated over a lifetime are being added online daily by millions of users. The amount of data uploaded to online data storage sites by businesses is even more.
It is not surprising that people have started nominating heirs to their online properties such as websites, blogs, contact management systems, their multiple log-in names and passwords, etc. Online diaries often carry sensitive information meant only for personal viewing, so too with online photo and video albums. People are opting for either nominating an heir or taking steps to erasing their online presence once they are gone.
Also, storage bills have to be paid each month or the painstakingly accumulated memories may get wiped out. Online data has become a valuable asset that requires attention when charting out estate details so that control of the material online can be passed on to designated individuals.
Till now, the most prominent online utility to take the demise of an individual into consideration has been email. Both Google and Microsoft offer access to next of kin upon furnishing of suitable proof such as a death certificate. Yahoo does not offer any such facility.
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