The feature encourages Google users to plan their “digital afterlife”, giving instructions to Google as to whether data should be deleted, or a designated person should be granted access to data.
“Not many of us like thinking about death — especially our own. But making plans for what happens after you’re gone is really important for the people you leave behind. So today, we’re launching a new feature that makes it easy to tell Google what you want done with your digital assets when you die or can no longer use your account,” Google explained.
Users can ask that data be deleted after three, six, nine, or 12 months of inactivity, for example, or that specified contacts be given access to online content from +1s, Blogger, Contacts and Circles, Drive, Gmail, Google+ Profiles, Pages and Streams, Picasa Web Albums, Google Voice and YouTube.
Before taking any action with digital data, Google will doublecheck with the user by sending SMSs to a contact phone number and emails to an alternative address.
Users can access the Inactive Account Manager via the settings page on their Google Account.
“We hope that this new feature will enable you to plan your digital afterlife — in a way that protects your privacy and security — and make life easier for your loved ones after you’re gone,” the company concluded.
