A master programme thesis from Aalborg University
Metasoul: Exploring Digital Legacies and Post-Mortem Data Rights: Conceptualising post-mortem data management through legal frameworks, user experience, and service providers
[Metasoul: Undersøgelse af digitale eftermæler og rettigheder til data efter døden: Konceptualisering af håndtering af data efter døden gennem juridiske rammer, brugeroplevelser og serviceudbydere]
Author(s)
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-06-04
Pages
143 pages
Abstract
As digital lives increasingly outlast their owners, managing data after death poses a growing challenge for individuals and families. This thesis explores post-mortem data practices and introduces the Unified Post-Mortem Access Protocol (UPAP), a protocol for standardising service provider practices. The thesis applies a threefold exploration of legal frameworks, user experiences, and service provider practices to examine how digital assets are managed after death. Methodologically, it combines legal exploration with focus on Denmark, and Scandinavian countries for comparison, with the analysis of service providers, a user survey of 140 individuals, and interviews to capture user perspectives. The main issue is the absence of clear laws and standards for post-mortem data handling, creating uncertainty around privacy and access. Findings show legal variation, inconsistent service provider practices, low user awareness, and a complex process for next of kin handling legacies of the deceased. The thesis concludes that legal reform, user awareness, and a protocol like UPAP are potential steps toward better handling of digital identities after death. This thesis also aims to encourage future work in the unexplored field of post-mortem digital rights.
Keywords
Documents
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