In an age when digital possessions are increasingly becoming an important part of our lives, questions arise as to who will own our online data? How can we make sure our loved ones can legally bequeath our online information?

Why is it important to pass on your digital footprints in a will?

Many of us are only concerned about passing on our financial assets, properties, cars and other valuables but we have overlooked the importance of passing on things like our emails, online accounts, photos, blogs, and contacts. Living in the age of the birth of machines, these ‘e-affairs’ are equally important.

It is very well for online providers to uphold users’ privacy. Without logins and passwords, our family may never be able to get access to our online assets. Social websites such as Facebook and MySpace offer the option for family to freeze the deceased’s profiles by way of ‘memorialisation’ but Flickr refuses all access. While some email providers, including Gmail and Hotmail, will give up the deceased’s password upon the proof of death and proof of relationship, Yahoo! refuses all access. A deceased’s e-affairs can forever be left undone if relatives have no access to these digital possessions.