Google Putting on Heirs

Here’s an interesting piece that describes a new service from Google that allows users a simple method for instructing the search engine giant on what to do with the users’ data after their death.   Options include having the data deleted after some specified period – anywhere from 3 to 12 months – or transferring the data to one or more other people.  This issue has been popping up around the country, and it’s caused confusion and heartache in some circumstances, as parents were blocked in one case from seeing Facebook posts that they hoped would give some clues about why their son committed suicide.  It’s hard to blame the search engines – users do have privacy concerns. But the law was slow to react.  The Google approach simplifies things.  So long as users are willing to confront their mortality.  That may prove to be a bigger challenge.