Digital Afterlife

" Like a strange thing to ponder but with all the ways that our lives are connected to the Internet. Asking yourself what could happen to your online persona after you -- isn't ballot question. Joining us now with what -- online presence options art is the author of the business guy to legal literacy. Attorney and a half -- Kestner and I think he's so much for joining us today. My pleasure I act I actually had this situation happened recently very dear friend of mine lost her husband. His profile is still up on FaceBook and I still get pokes and prods once in -- hey you haven't talked to this person in a while you should reach out. What exactly are the legalities involved with and that online you know probably he created -- and -- up until this unfortunate passing. Well each."

" Social network site has been treated somewhat differently but but overall what somebody can do with a social that we're excited ultimately gonna depend on what there inheritance rights are. And as far as FaceBook they've actually done a very good job in allowing people to either request that the site be removed. Or to memorialize it. But the situation that you describe is exactly why it's good for that organization to address that because it creates that awkwardness. When you suddenly get those automated process say hey you haven't talked to this person for awhile. And can these it whether it's FaceBook MySpace or any of the number of difference outlets that are out there. He evenly and go to them after a person's death and and get past quarter -- wanna take this down I'd like to keep in a certain way are they all different. Well they may be different and yet you raise an interesting point about the passport passport to real sensitive because packets to the whole privacy issue. And the terms of service for each of these particular outlet the FaceBook the -- what ever and your email accounts for that matter. They take privacy very seriously and privacy is one of those things that can actually survived death. There may be some exceptions to that but overall they're probably not gonna give you the password. Unless the person that -- C says that have made arrangements. But as far as the content goes now that's a different story that that may be a possibility and FaceBook tree sit. By allowing you to memorialize the site or to request to take it down altogether. Okay so you mentioned email accounts to that's got to get tricky windy those remain active after somebody has passed away. Looking email accounts of these differences social networking sites are are we look at these things considered in considering them. I'll tell you property law there is -- some matter of ownership in in these particular outlets. Well absolutely now I'm not saying that the outlets do but he was the author when you create these types of things here creating copying right it's a form of intellectual property. And property rights are well established and there's a whole lot of inheritance that deals with property rights -- that's very well established. Now of course let's not always clear is that what that -- these solutions are. And the default typically happens is is that you're subject to that company's policies if it's not clear -- it can take awhile to actually enforce inheritance rights depending on where you. Are in line at the hierarchy of inherited. So it that that does leave things in limbo for awhile. I -- hassled Helstrom thank you so much an interesting topic we appreciate your insights. Thank you so much."