Cloud Computing: Google Gives Users ‘Digital Wills’ For Data

Grazed from Sky.com.  Author: Editorial Staff.

Search giant Google has decided to give its users a ‘digital will’ option for their online data.  The new facility allows consumers to decide what happens with their online account data after they die.  The cyber-stored information may also be wiped with approval if they become inactive online for any other reason.

According to Goldsmiths PhD student Stacey Pitsillides, who has focused her research on the issue of data and death, the Google strategy breaks new ground.  Ms Pitsillides, 26, told Sky News: "Google is one of the first major players to develop a clear opening strategy to deal with this issue and it is hoped that this will encourage others in the industry to follow suit."…

Dubbed "data-after-death", the official Google facility is formally known as inactive account manager and lets users tell the company what to do with email messages and other data if their account becomes inactive.  For example, Google email and YouTube posting can be deleted after three, six or 12 months of inactivity. Or they can choose specific people to receive the data access.   The issue of personal data possession has become an increasingly important issue as "cloud computing" and social media expands…

Read more from the source @ http://news.sky.com/story/1077294/google-gives-users-digital-wills-for-data