Have you ever read the Privacy Policy when you create an email account with an ISP, or on Facebook and MySpace? Do you just skim the page, thinking it’s nothing really important or useful? Let’s consider an intriguing question published recently on news.com.au: Have you ever wondered what happens to your emails after you’re gone? How long are they active…and are they stored for awhile?
Now we’re not trying to be morbid, but we are very interested in email security and regulations, and we honestly didn’t know the answer. CAN someone send email from your account or read your private emails if you’re not around to object?
Here’s what we discovered: it all depends on the privacy policy of the ISP or social media site where you had your accounts. Unfortunately, they vary wildly, and some have their own ideas about how to keep you “virtually alive” after your demise.
For example: Internet giants like Google and Microsoft have a policy of keeping your data after you die and letting your next of kin or the executor of your estate access it. However, when you open your account there is no way to opt out if you want to keep your emails confidential after you die!
This means that when you release this mortal coil, your emails live on. In fact, you could still “receive” emails (including very private messages) which could be read by your kin or executor!
Do we have your attention now? So let’s look at how the biggest email providers and social media sites handle this issue in case you want to make some changes before it’s, you know, too late:
- Hotmail − Deletes email accounts if they are not used after 270 days. However, if you die, your next of kin would be able to access your account within that period by providing ID and your death certificate.
- Gmail − Also allows the next of kin to apply for access, however, in addition to ID and the death certificate, the person would need to provide proof of an email conversation between them and the deceased.
- Yahoo! – The strictest of them all! They let the users’ next of kin request that the account be closed, but will not give them access to it. They advise users who don’t want their emails shared after death to include it in their wills.
The issue is handled with a bit more variety on the most popular social sites. For instance:
- MySpace – Their privacy policy doesn’t say much about “deceased user” situations, however MySpace doesn’t automatically delete profiles after a period of inactivity, either. They will remove a deceased user’s profile at the family’s request.
- Facebook − This is really interesting! Facebook offers a service called Memorialization that allows family members to retain a profile of the deceased former user as a virtual tribute. The profile would be locked and all private information simultaneously removed.
You have to admit, it might be worth thinking about! Let us know your views about any of the policies and the issue in general. After you pass, would YOU like your messages to live on…online?