Sun, Nov 21, 2010 | Updated 01.18PM IST
21 NOV, 2010, 06.59AM IST, DIVYA A,TNN
Who gets access to those passwords and usernames? Who can log on as the
digital heir? This is why everyone needs a digital will. This is the document that
bequeaths a person's digital assets to his heirs.
How can this be done? The first step is to create a digital inventory –
an index of your "soft" assets. Second, get your digital
There have been fights over a dead writer's manuscript on his PC, a deceased
photojournalist's digital photo library and a businessman's financial records in his
email account .
Service providers have different policies about passing on digital information after
an account holder's death. For example, Yahoo! terminates accounts and Google,
which manages Gmail (email), Orkut (social networking) and Picasa
(online photo-sharing ), gives conditional access to kin.
Google India spokesman Gaurav Bhaskar says, "Account details of a deceased can
be passed on only to someone who furnishes proof of authority under local law that
he is the lawful representative of the deceased, and presents the death certificate
and other documents. The process may take up to 30 days."
But most people, says Mumbai-based cyber behaviour expert Neeta Mehra, don't
want personal stuff such as email, social networking accounts or blogs to be passed
on.
"To avoid this, one can use the services of 'do-it-yourself account guardian'
websites where one can upload all secret data and opt for account incinerator
services (getting your account deleted in the event of death)," she says. Such
websites need a death certificate and a copy of the obituary. However, they are not
governed by any law.
Duggal says Indians are gradually waking up to this issue. "For the first time in India,
in April, a Delhi businessman opted for a digital will. Since then, six more have
followed suit. Many have approached me to discuss their digital estate and to
make their wills."
DIGITAL LEGACY
Passwords
Instructive memos
Digital contracts
Digital receipts
Pictures
Data stored on PCs
Who gets your email account when you die?
Our lives are becoming more virtual by the day with email, social networking,
internet banking accounts and digital photo albums and data stored on our PCs,
but what of death?
internet banking accounts and digital photo albums and data stored on our PCs,
but what of death?
Who gets access to those passwords and usernames? Who can log on as the
digital heir? This is why everyone needs a digital will. This is the document that
bequeaths a person's digital assets to his heirs.
How can this be done? The first step is to create a digital inventory –
an index of your "soft" assets. Second, get your digital
signature authenticated. "Then, it won't take more than a day and a couple of
thousands (of rupees ) to have your digital will ready,"
thousands (of rupees ) to have your digital will ready,"
says Supreme Court advocate Pavan Duggal , who specializes in cyber law.
Duggal says a digital will is important because there have been many disputes
about digitized data in recent times. "Most of us never think about making
arrangements to name an heir for our digital assets, and it becomes a Herculean
task for legal representatives to get a succession certificate for such data. It could
take years in court."
There have been fights over a dead writer's manuscript on his PC, a deceased
photojournalist's digital photo library and a businessman's financial records in his
email account .
Service providers have different policies about passing on digital information after
an account holder's death. For example, Yahoo! terminates accounts and Google,
which manages Gmail (email), Orkut (social networking) and Picasa
(online photo-sharing ), gives conditional access to kin.
Google India spokesman Gaurav Bhaskar says, "Account details of a deceased can
be passed on only to someone who furnishes proof of authority under local law that
he is the lawful representative of the deceased, and presents the death certificate
and other documents. The process may take up to 30 days."
But most people, says Mumbai-based cyber behaviour expert Neeta Mehra, don't
want personal stuff such as email, social networking accounts or blogs to be passed
on.
"To avoid this, one can use the services of 'do-it-yourself account guardian'
websites where one can upload all secret data and opt for account incinerator
services (getting your account deleted in the event of death)," she says. Such
websites need a death certificate and a copy of the obituary. However, they are not
governed by any law.
Duggal says Indians are gradually waking up to this issue. "For the first time in India,
in April, a Delhi businessman opted for a digital will. Since then, six more have
followed suit. Many have approached me to discuss their digital estate and to
make their wills."
DIGITAL LEGACY
Passwords
Instructive memos
Digital contracts
Digital receipts
Pictures
Data stored on PCs
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