• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Finternational-womens-day-female-entrepreneurs-in-hong-kong-jane-engelmannWomen who have made a difference: #4
        • school interviews Ruth BennyTips for school interviews (PODCAST)
        • Serviced apartments and places to stay in HK
        • outdoor activities18 outdoor adventures in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • What to watch this month
        • Woman’s Hour PodcastGreat podcasts we are listening to!
        • outdoor activities18 outdoor adventures in Hong Kong
        • Mount Davis - viewHiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
      • Kids Offers
        • school interviews Ruth BennyTips for school interviews (PODCAST)
        • School news - new schools in Hong Kong, new curriculums, new facilities and more!What’s new on the school scene?
        • Pregnancy scan image for web article on how to choose an obstetrician in Hong KongHow to choose an obstetrician
        • Baby spit upReflux in newborns: tips and treatment
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home DΓ©cor
      • Readers Homes
        • Dining tables and chairs - TREEWhere to go for dining tables
        • Home news: dΓ©cor, furniture & more!
        • Townplace Soho - barProperty Watch: An urban oasis in Soho
        • Top furniture finds for your home office
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Mount Davis - viewHiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander
        • Gorgeous waterfalls around the world
        • Travel news: Places to stay and play
        • MongoliaWomen on a Mission take on Mongolia
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Fiamma Italian restaurant - tortelliniTaste Test: Peak Italian Cuisine at Fiamma
        • Vegetarian recipe: Vietnamese rice roll with quorn mince and bolognese sauce5 meat-free meal ideas to try
        • Indian-Restarants-New-Punjab-ClubTop Indian restaurants to try
        • Fagara Aperitivo - Hong Kong restaurantsNew nibbles: where to dine this month
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • laser treatments hong kongHow to get super smooth skin
        • Tried & Tested: Body lotions we love
        • online shopping websites21 fashion websites shipping to HK
        • Mazu ResortwearFashion news: the latest launches
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • Gyms in Hong Kong - best places for keeping fit8 great places to go to keep in shape
        • Pregnancy scan image for web article on how to choose an obstetrician in Hong KongHow to choose an obstetrician
        • menopause - symptoms and how to get helpManaging menopause: how to get help
        • heartAre you at risk of heart disease?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • Mar-May 2021
        • Mar-May 2021 – $36 (Usual Price $48)
        • December – February 2021
        • DEC-FEB 2020 – $36 (USUAL PRICE $48)
      • View all
    Close
Home Β» Living In Hong Kong Β» Living Here Β» Digital domain: What happens to your online assets after you die?

Digital domain: What happens to your online assets after you die?

9 March, 2017 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/digital-domain-what-happens-to-your-online-assets-after-you-die/

Infinity financial solutions, digital domains, online assets after I die

In the old days, when a person died, their photo albums, letters and random papers and mementos automatically passed to their next of kin. As Michele Carby from Infinity Financial Solutions points out, in the digital era, the situation is not so clear.

Few people give a thought to what will happen to all the data they have stored online, including emails, web albums, banking information, Dropbox accounts and even blogs, and, as yet, lawmakers have not succeeded in legislating this thorny issue.

Currently, technology companies have terms-of-service agreements in place that don’t allow anyone to access an account which isn’t theirs. Trying to access other people’s accounts using passwords, even ones which have been entrusted to you, violates these agreements and could see an individual accused of cybercrimes. There have been several recent cases in the US of individuals fighting to gain access to the accounts of deceased family members for both sentimental and practical reasons; it’s a situation that more and more families will face as we increasingly conduct our lives online.

There are some serious privacy issues to consider here. Would you be happy to give your nearest and dearest access to your online life? You may be happy for them to see your holiday snaps but what about those risquΓ© selfies sent to your partner? Privacy campaigners believe that the privacy of both the deceased and those who communicate with them should be protected. They advocate a policy whereby access to information should be granted by a judge, arguing that in the pre-digital offline world, most of us would throw away the vast majority of our communication, keeping only the most important. This is not the case online, with huge amounts of personal information and communication stored indefinitely.

Tech providers are trying to get to grips with this issue and some have come up with their own solutions. Google, for example, will delete accounts if the owner doesn’t log in for a certain time, or allow access for a previously designated individual. Yahoo’s terms of conditions state that a user’s account will cease to exist upon their death whereas Facebook will now memorialise accounts, enabling existing friends to view content. Yet questions remain over whether these technology companies should decide the fate of our digital assets, and the courts have overruled their policies in certain cases.

Many among Asia’s expat community have online assets that make money. Websites, blogs and social media accounts are geared to producing revenue; sometimes they can produce millions of dollars a year. Many of these valuable assets are often also in a legal grey area, and without the means to claim ownership, beneficiaries of the deceased may lose out on a significant legacy.

The US is leading the way on legislation concerning digital assets. The Uniform Law Commission recently passed an act giving loved ones access to the digital assets of a deceased family member but also allowing individuals to express their privacy choices in a will. If introduced, this act would override the terms-of-service agreements mentioned above, though it remains to be seen whether US states will adopt it.

While this issue remains largely unresolved, many estate planning experts advise individuals to make provisions in their wills for what happens to their digital assets as well as their physical ones. At present, there’s no guarantee that your wishes will be carried out but it’s the best you can do while lawmakers try to keep pace with technological advances.

Categories: Living Here Living In Hong Kong

You May Also Like

Townplace Soho - bar

Property Watch: An urban oasis in Soho

Charity Focus: Hike for Freedom

International relocation - costs

The changing costs of relocation

Primary Sidebar

Expat Living Hong Kong πŸ‡­πŸ‡°

expatlivinghk

Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up @janeeveinteriors to give one lucky winner two beautiful handmade scented candles from Jane's β€œRefresh Me” and β€œRelax Me” ranges.  Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @janeeveinteriors  on Instagram
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio.

Good Luck! 🀞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #fridaygiveaway #giveawayhk #winwinwin #handmadehk
Open
There's so much to love in Jen and Jeff's Happy Valley flat, for the full story head over to our website, link in bio. @moftstudio 

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkig #hkiger #hkinteriordesign #hkinterior #balivibe
Open
Ever wondered what it is like to live in Tai Hang? EL reader Neelam Daswani @neelampurehealth gives us the lowdown. For the full story and Neelam's recommendations see our MARCH-MAY issue.

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkiger
Open
❀️HK❀️

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkig #hkiger #view
Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up @gingerjarlampco to give one lucky winner a stunning Ginger Jar Lamp worth $4,000!  Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @gingerjarlampco on Instagram
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio.

Good Luck! 🀞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #fridaygiveaway
Open
Jo Lodder and Catherine Cormack recently set out to raise much needed funds for @stop.hk and @tails.lantau by tackling Hong Kong’s famous hiking trails over four days in March.  To find out how they got on, head over to our website to read all about it, link in bio.

#hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #hkig #hikeforfreedom #hkhiking #hkhiker #adoptdontshop #stophumantrafficking
Open
πŸ“Έ @ colsimphotography

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger
#photography #photooftheday #streetphotography #streetsigns #hkstreet
Open
A chocolate overload and cute little bunnies – what’s not to like about Easter celebrations? We’ve rounded up some things to do in Hong Kong for a cracking good time over the break - check out the full article on our website - link in bio.

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #easter #eastereggs #easterbunny
Open
Whether you're a newbie or have been here a while, our guide is sure to help you make the most of living here.  Read it for free on any device πŸ‘‰ expatliving.hk/cg/ig
Open
Beaches and swimming pools are progressively re-opening πŸŠβ€β™€οΈπŸπŸ‘πŸ‘

#hk #hkig #hkiger #hkbeach #hkpools
Open
*Friday Giveaway*  Win one of 50 Early Access Passes to the Affordable Online Art Fair 2021. Like this post & enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio

Good Luck! 🀞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #art #affordableart #affordableartfair #giveaway
Open
Jo Lodder and Catherine Cormack are currently on a Hike for Freedom, tackling four trails – the Maclehose, Hong Kong, Wilson and Lantau – to raise money for two organisations doing incredibly important work. @stophk - a charity that strives to put and end to human trafficking in Hong Kong and @ tails.lantau - an animal rescue organisation based on Lantau. The Hike will cover 300km and 18,600m in elevation over just four days! 

Read the full article on our homepage - link in bio - including how you can donate and follow their progress.

#hikeforfreedom #hkhiking #adoptdontshop #hongkong #hkig
Open
In our new spring issue we take a look at Jenny Perry's  impressive village house renovation in Sai Kung 🏑 there's so much to love! Check out the article for all her tips and local recommendations πŸ‘‰ link in bio
Open
Read our latest Spring issue on any device for free πŸ‘‰ expatliving.hk/digital/FB/

In this issue, we’ve got some of the best finds to make your home office functional and looking good. We also check out two beautifully renovated homes, get an insider’s guide to Tai Hang and discover home-decorating trends and the latest properties on the market.

There's loads more, including great Mexican food, easy recipes from our team, beauty tips and facials to try, and a look at Hong Kong’s country parks and hiking trails.

πŸ‘¨β€πŸŽ“ Plus, an eight-pager School Special! Everything from getting your kids IB-ready and enrichment options to great advice on battling bullies and trolls.
Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up with Assaggio to give one lucky winner a fabulous 35oz Fiorentina T-Bone Steak & Seafood Set Dinner for Four, worth $2,488!Β  

Featuring the 35oz Fiorentina T-Bone Steak served on a red hot sizzling iron plate with rosemary, the set dinner comes with Seafood Platter (Oyster Fine de Clair, Alaska King Crab Leg, Black Mediterranean Mussel, Veraci Clam), Kobocha Pumpkin and Tomino Cheese Soup, and Italian Black Truffle Tagliolini.Β 
Finally, wrap up the meal with the signature dessert trio: Tiramisu, Panna Cotta and Wild Berry Sorbet.

Sound good?

Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @miradining on Facebook
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio 

Good Luck! 🀞🏻
Open
πŸ“· @colsimphoto we love his new collection #hongkonginmotion
Open
We are looking for readers to tell us about their area and why they love it.

We will send you some questions to answer and feature you in the Street Talk section of our print magazine and will also publish it online.

Drop us a PM with some info of where you live and we will get our team to be in touch 😊
Open
One of the many ways to enjoy HK’s waters! Head to our website for a comprehensive guide, link in bio. πŸ“· @ wanchaibelle
Open
Love a tasty taco, a classic plate of nachos or a frosty margarita? 

We recently road tested 3 Mexican restaurants – read the full reviews in our March magazine βœ¨πŸ“– or online – link in bio.
@taqueriasupermacho 
@elmachohk
@tqmhk
Open
HK resident and award-winning artist Martin Lever recently spent 14 days in quarantine. Inspired by the mountain view, he created a stunning series of artwork, The Room 202 Project. 

What's more, Martin has teamed up with ImpactHK and is selling limited-edition digital prints – 50% of sales will  support HK's homeless.

For the full story, head to our website – link in bio.
  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2021 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.