Terms of Service with Clare Duffy What Happens to Your Digital Footprint When You Die?
Feb 18, 2025
Elaine Kasket, a psychologist and author of "All The Ghosts in the Machine," delves into the digital afterlife of personal data. She discusses the growing number of deceased individuals with active online accounts and the challenges this poses for loved ones. Kasket emphasizes the need for proactive planning to manage digital legacies, exploring the ethical implications of AI replicas and digital memorials. She offers insights on setting up legacy contacts for major platforms, ensuring your online presence is handled according to your wishes after you're gone.
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Digital Remains
- Millions of Facebook accounts belong to deceased users.
- The sheer volume of digital remains poses management challenges for loved ones.
Digital Footprint Magnitude
- Digital remains encompass all online data, from health data to work documents.
- Most people underestimate the extent of their digital footprint.
Data Ownership After Death
- Companies control our data after death due to terms of service agreements.
- Data retention by companies may be driven by potential value and profit.
