BLUF: Nebraska proposes legislation to allow next of kin to control digital accounts after a user has passed away. While Facebook offers options to deal with a deceased user’s account, legal representatives need the right to access accounts to truly manage a deceased’s digital life.
Nebraska is the latest state to propose legislation to clarify the rights of representatives of the deceased to control digital accounts after a user has passed away. The proposed bill follows the digital property management after death law that passed in Oklahoma in 2010, which states that the executor or administrator of an estate shall have the power to take control of, conduct, continue, or terminate any accounts of the deceased person on any social networking website, any microblogging or short message service website or any email service websites. Facebook currently offers two options to deal with a deceased user’s account: request memorialization, or request the account to be closed. However, legal representatives need the right to access accounts to truly manage a deceased’s digital life.Source…