Memories used to be stored in photo albums; important documents, certificates and contracts were physical paper – but in this internet era, a lot of your personal information is now stored in the cloud. So, what happens to your digital data when you are no longer around to log in?
It might be a morbid thought, but if you use social media to journal important memories, it may be essential for you to consider. Not being able to manage your online presence and allowing your public accounts to lay dormant could be painful and upsetting for those you leave behind. So, planning who can access your online profiles is important.
If you’re old enough and wise enough to have arranged a will, your executor (the person assigned to carry out the terms of the will) will also have legal standing to access your digital assets: online accounts, websites, etc.
In recent years, an increasing number of platforms have added legacy features, making it easier for you to plan ahead, letting you choose which data can be accessed and by who. However, they all have their own unique access requirements and set-up processes.
Apple’s ‘legacy contacts’ feature allows you to generate and share a unique access key with your nominated contacts who you choose to access to your device’s data. After your death, they can make an access request using the access key you sent them and proof of your death to be able to see your digital information. This allows them to view and backup your device’s data for up to 3 years after their request’s approval. After that, your account and all its information will be permanently deleted.
Google (who own YouTube and Gmail) has introduced an ‘inactive account manager’ setting, allowing you to safeguard your data by choosing a timescale for your account to remain inactive before up to 10 of your nominated contacts are notified, granting them access to the data of your choosing.
Facebook also allows you to add a ‘legacy contact’ to manage and ‘memorialise’ your posts or (if you choose) delete your account. Although they will be able to request further information about your account, they will not be able to access your messages or make any changes to your friends list.
Instagram, despite also being owned by Meta, does not have this option. Your loved one can either choose to memorialise your account or delete it permanently. Neither option will allow them to access any of the personal data held on your account.
Twitter, LinkedIn and Microsoft are all a little behind the curve and have not yet introduced a legacy contact option.
Therefore we recommend you leave details of all your digital assets – accounts, usernames and passwords – with a family member or trusted friend who can help carry out your wishes. This is especially useful for platforms where nominating a legacy contact isn’t possible.
If you would like support and guidance on drafting your will or further help with making provisions for your digital legacy, please do not hesitate to contact Baron Grey’s Wills and Probate team on 0208 891 4311 for a free no-obligation initial consultation.
