Apple launches "digital heritage" function
Can the footprints left by the online world be inherited?
Our reporter Zhao Yingying
From December 15th, Apple users have successively received iOS15.2 update pushes. One of the new changes is that the "digital heritage" function is officially launched. The designated heritage contacts can access their iCloud accounts and personal after the death of the user information.
In the digital age, can the footprints left by people in the online world be handed over to others after the owner's death?
This is becoming a new subject.
Legacy contacts can access accounts
Digital heritage can be roughly divided into two categories, one is digital assets, such as game equipment, virtual currency, etc.; the other is digital relics with personality attributes, such as circle of friends, chat records, photo albums, etc.
According to Apple’s official introduction to the “digital heritage” function, starting with iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and macOS 12.1, Apple users can add one or more heritage contacts to their Apple ID.
Trusted heritage contacts do not even need to have an Apple ID or Apple device. They only need to provide the access key and death certificate generated when they are selected as the heritage contact. After verification, they can access the storage after the death of the user. Data from its Apple account.
According to reports, the data designated as accessible by the digital heritage function includes: iCloud photos, memos, emails, address books, calendars, reminders, iCloud cloud information, call history, files stored in iCloud cloud disks, and health data , Voice memos, Safari browser bookmarks and reading lists, and iCloud backup.
However, the videos, music and books purchased by users using their Apple ID, upgrades, subscriptions, game currency, etc., payment information, and data stored in the keychain cannot be accessed by legacy contacts.
There is also a time limit for heritage contacts to access data, which is three years from the date of approval of the first heritage account request.
After that, the account will be permanently deleted.
Domestic companies also have deceased account protection
"Digital Heritage" is not Apple's first.
The "2020 China Will Bank White Paper" released by the China Will Bank shows that in 2020, 10.69% of the "post-80s" will mention Alipay, WeChat, QQ, game accounts, securities funds and other virtual properties in their wills. In the "post-90s" In the will, the mention ratio is 21.35%.
Before Apple, domestic Internet companies had already launched the protection function for "deceased account".
Station B announced on December 24, 2020 that for station B users who have unfortunately passed away, after obtaining the confirmation and consent of their immediate family members, the account of the deceased will be listed as a "commemorative account" and protected.
"To commemorate them and us once existed in the same world, once saw the same scenery, happy or sad for the same things." Station B wrote in the announcement.
Weibo also previously issued an announcement on the protection of the "deceased's account", mentioning that in order to protect the privacy of the deceased and prevent the deceased's account from being stolen, the site will set a protection status for the deceased's account.
Accounts set to protected status cannot log in, cannot post new content, cannot delete content, and cannot change their status.
In addition to inheritance, information protection must also be considered
Of course, there are also platforms that do not support account inheritance.
WeChat and Alipay have made it clear that their accounts are for the user's use only, and cannot be gifted, borrowed, transferred, inherited, etc.
"Can my flowers be inherited?" "No need" "I want to destroy my phone before death"... The reporter also noticed that in the comments made by Sina Weibo netizens on Apple's "digital heritage" function, it is common Reflects concerns about personal privacy protection.
Up to now, the "Civil Code" only has guidelines for the protection of data and network virtual property, that is, "where the law has provisions on the protection of data and network virtual property, in accordance with its provisions", there is no actual regulatory content.
Industry experts pointed out that social accounts, game equipment, etc. are jointly produced by platforms and individuals. For similar virtual properties, the law should study and regulate which rights are granted to all parties, and strike a balance between virtual property inheritance and personal information protection.