Digital Inheritance

Lead Research Organisation: University of Dundee
Department Name: School of Computing

Abstract

The data that makes up people's online identities lies scattered across the virtual landscape, consisting of emails, photos, social network site interactions and more. Such data can have emotional, financial and intellectual significance. Yet the awkward question of what happens to this data when a user dies lies unanswered. There are three main components to this open question, which this research seeks to address: (1) How do online applications need to change to allow users to nominate data inheritors? There is no obvious mechanism for the bequest of one's digital artefacts. It is subject to the terms of use of individual web sites and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), buried far down in the small print or not dealt with at all. In life, we own our personal data, no matter where it is held. (2) How do online applications need to change to facilitate inheritance of personal data in the inevitable event of a user's death? After death, ownership of the deceased's personal data is a grey area. This can result in distress and inconvenience for the bereaved as they struggle to retrieve precious online artefacts. (3) What are the boundaries for the acceptable creation, ownership and management of online memorials which re-purpose inherited data, appropriate to UK cultural norms? We are already seeing spontaneous technology-based responses to death and loss emerging- e.g. - online memorials. Many are respectful and appropriate, yet some are not - and can cause further anguish to the bereaved as a result. There is a lack of research to establish boundaries of acceptability in this highly sensitive area.In this research, I will address the questions outlined above from a participatory perspective, collaborating with users, and with experts in law, psychology, sociology and social software. I will first establish what people want to happen to their data after they die, their preferences in expressing these choices, and how these choices should be acted upon. I will then examine how the bereaved choose to repurpose these digital artefacts, how this repurposing can assist in the grieving process, and the way in which these repurposed artefacts should be managed to protect the sensitivities of the bereaved. The work will be underpinned by a theoretical understanding of the bereavement process and empathetic social behaviour.

Planned Impact

The individuals, groups and organisations who will benefit from the research are: (i) Technology users, particularly those who face death either through working in dangerous occupations such as the Armed Forces, or through terminal illness. They will benefit by having an easy-to-use mechanism to bequeath their digital artefacts, and jargon-free guidance on how to use it. (ii) The bereaved. The distress, complexity and time involved in accessing the deceased's digital artefacts will be reduced, leading to a higher quality of life for the bereaved. We will achieve this by making the bequest and inheritance of digital artefacts much more straightforward, as described in detail in the Case for Support. We will author guidance on following the 'digital inheritance' protocol developed in simple, jargon-free language. This guidance will be distributed through support and advice organisations (for example Social Services, Citizen's Advice Bureau, funeral directors, community spiritual leaders, law firms). At present, these organisations provide the bereaved with a leaflet detailing administrative steps to take after a death - such as how you stop mailings. We will produce guidance on managing digital data as an addendum to this, written in simple, jargon-free language. (iii) Voluntary and public sector organisations that support the bereaved (e.g Citizen's Advice Bureau, Social Services, religious organisations), lawyers and funeral directors. Through the provision of digital wills, inheritance protocols and guidance notes, they will be able to support clients who wish to bequeath or inherit digital artefacts. Digital wills, inheritance protocols and guidance notes will be made available via a dedicated website, hosted at the University of Dundee. They will also be distributed through third sector and commercial organisations that support and advise the bereaved. The research will also benefit: (iv) Policy makers. It is in the public interest to define what should happen to an individual's data after their death, rather than leaving Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to make the decision behind closed doors. We will report on the research findings to organisations in the UK such as the Information Commissioner's Office, for whom this is an area of interest. The collaborating organisations SCRIPT and CDAS have established track records in advising governments and international bodies. (v) ISPs and software developers. Best-practice guidelines will be created for the developers of online applications. These will guide developers in the inclusion of an option to nominate inheritors of digital artefacts in their applications. Moncur will engage with the Industry Advisory Board and spend time at Intel and Microsoft to develop and disseminate these guidelines.
 
Description The Digital Inheritance project began at the end of May 2011, and ran until October 2014. Central findings are: (i) digital materials are extremely difficult to curate and bequeath; (ii) awareness of the value of digital materials - emotional , financial, intellectual, practical - is low amongst users (iii) obstacles to bequest and inheritance are presented by varying terms of service of ISPs.
Exploitation Route Inform development of new methodologies in HCI, for research in sensitive areas.

Stimulate cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Sectors Creative Economy

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Financial Services

and Management Consultancy

Government

Democracy and Justice

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

Security and Diplomacy

Other

URL http://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/wendy-moncur%28bcbb7879-4df7-427d-bd0f-08ccd5274ec7%29.html
 
Description The findings have been disseminated through academic publications, public engagement events, newspaper articles, radio interviews, academic seminars in the UK, Canada and Australia, and submission to the Commons Science and Technology Committee. The area of research remains highly topical, with Moncur continuing to contribute to public engagement events in this area. In 2019, Moncur provided policy advice to Facebook on their approach to design for end of life, and addressed a Marie Curie (cancer care charity) Thought Leadership event in Edinburgh, attended by health service professionals, technology experts and the public.
First Year Of Impact 2011
Sector Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Digital Personhood: Charting the digital lifespan (EPSRC grant ref EP/L00383X/1)
Amount £704,221 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/L00383X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2013 
End 02/2016
 
Description EPSRC DTA - PHD STUDENTSHIP
Amount £70,000 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2016 
End 04/2020
 
Description EPSRC DTA PHD STUDENTSHIP
Amount £70,000 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2014 
End 05/2018
 
Description Key Technology Partner Visiting Fellowship
Amount $10,000 (AUD)
Organisation University of Technology Sydney 
Sector Academic/University
Country Australia
Start 08/2014 
End 10/2014
 
Description Projects for Scotland
Amount £5,000 (GBP)
Organisation Government of Scotland 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2013 
End 12/2014
 
Description Scottish Crucible 2012
Amount £3,732 (GBP)
Organisation Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2013 
End 11/2014
 
Description CHI2012 Workshop 
Organisation Carnegie Mellon University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Workshop entitled "Memento Mori: Technology Design for the End of Life.", to run in May 2012 at the leading international HCI conference, CHI2012. The workshop has attracted contributions from Europe, USA, Canada and South America. Collaboration on organisation of workshop.
Start Year 2011
 
Description CHI2012 Workshop 
Organisation Newcastle University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution ********
Start Year 2011
 
Description Intel Ireland 
Organisation Intel Corporation
Department Intel Ireland
Country Ireland 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Prof. David Prendergast is a Senior Researcher & Anthropologist at Intel Corporation, and a Visiting Professor of Healthcare Innovation at Trinity College Dublin. He is a member of my industrial advisory board. David invited me to present my research at the Intel European Research & Innovation Conference in Ireland, and has subsequently invited me to contribute a chapter for an edited collection which he is producing, entitled ?Ageing and the Digital Life-course?, to be published by Berghahn Books.
Start Year 2011
 
Description Microsoft Research UK 
Organisation Microsoft Research
Department Microsoft Research Cambridge
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Richard Banks of Microsoft Research UK is a member of my industrial advisory board. We have collaborated on a workshop which we will run at CHI2012, the leading HCI conference internationally, on appropriate research methodologies for End of Life research. The workshop has attracted participants from Europe, US, Canada and South America. I have also acted as external examiner for one of Richard's PhD students.
Start Year 2011
 
Description Submission of workshop proposal to BCS HCI 2012 
Organisation Newcastle University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Workshop entitled: "HCI Research in Sensitive Contexts: Ethical Considerations "
Start Year 2012
 
Description Submission of workshop proposal to BCS HCI 2012 
Organisation Virginia Polytechnique Institute and State University
Department Centre for Human Computer Interaction
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaborative submission "HCI Research in Sensitive Contexts: Ethical Considerations" to BCS HCI 2012
Start Year 2012
 
Description UTS 
Organisation University of Technology Sydney
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaboration on application for a Key Technology Partner Visiting Fellowship at UTS (successful) Authorship of proposal for support for an EPSRC DTA studentship (successful)
Collaborator Contribution Collaboration on application for a Key Technology Partner Visiting Fellowship at UTS (successful) Co-authorship of proposal for support for an EPSRC DTA studentship (successful)
Impact Award of a Key Technology Partner Visiting Fellowship at UTS (successful) EPSRC DTA studentship (successful)
Start Year 2013
 
Description Workshop at CHI2012 
Organisation University of Toronto
Department Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab TAGlab
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Workshop entitled "Memento Mori: Technology Design for the End of Life.", to run in May 2012 at the leading international HCI conference, CHI2012. The workshop has attracted contributions from Europe, USA, Canada and South America.
Start Year 2011
 
Description Workshop prpoposal submitted to BCS HCI 2012 
Organisation University of Oxford
Department Department of Computer Science
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaborative submission "HCI Research in Sensitive Contexts: Ethical Considerations" to BCS HCI 2012
Start Year 2012
 
Title Advice provided to Facebook on their approach to user death and legacy 
Description I was consulted by Facebook on revisions to their software, to sensitively address the handling of user death and legacy. As part of this, I connected the Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Scotland for Marie Curie, and the Online Manager for Maggie's Cancer Care, to Facebook - enabling Facebook to get information directly from charities representing users at the end of life. 
Type Of Technology New/Improved Technique/Technology 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact Advice was incorporated into the rollout of a new release of Facebook software. 
 
Description 2012 Edinburgh Turing Festival: Your Digital Inheritance 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact IThere was lively debate with the audience , and subsequent online discussion - eg - https://www.calyxinstitute.org/news/calyx-institutes-executive-director-participates-security-and-freedom-panel-discussion-turing



The event was the subject of a newspaper article (The Scotsman), tweets and blog posts. It fostered debate on ownership of digital assets post-mortem.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
URL http://zine.openrightsgroup.org/comment/2012/three-things-i-learned-at-the-turing-festival
 
Description 2013 Strathmore Trophy 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Moncur co-organised a public engagement event involving schools from Fife, Perthshire, tayside, Aberdeenshire, focussing on social media use. The event was a competition for schoolchildren aged approx 14-15 from schools across the region. The activity led them to consider their long-term digital footprints, work in teams, gain confidence in public-speaking skills, and to engage with social aspects of Computing.

Teachers involved in the event reported a high level of enjoyment and a raised interest in computing as a subject, especially amongst girls who participated. The following schools were involved : Arbroath High School
•Beath High School
•Dollar Academy
•Glenrothes High School
•Grove Academy
•Harris Academy
•Hazlehead Academy
•High School of Dundee
•Inverkeithing High School
•Mackie Academy
•Madras College
•Mearns Academy
•Morgan Academy
•Perth Grammar School
•St John's RC Academy
•St Leonards
•St Paul's RC Academy
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://st-pauls.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/news/strathmore-trophy-2013
 
Description CDAS Conference 2011: Death and Dying in the Digital Age 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation paper presentation
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I delivered a talk and chaired a session. Both sparked lively discussion and questions.

Led to:
(1) a research visit to the University of Melbourne Natural User Interfaces group,
(2) an invitation to act as external examiner for a PhD student there (Joji Mori),
(3) collaboration on a conference paper with Dr Kasket and Dr Troyer.
(4) intensification of collaboration with the Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
URL http://www.bath.ac.uk/cdas/documents/cdas_conference_2011_book_of_abstracts.pdf
 
Description CDAS Seminar on Post-death control of digital assets: Digital ownership across lifespans 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards

The talk was attended by health professionals, representatives of bereavement charities, lawyers, social media companies and academics. A podcast was made publicly available. Content of the talk was the subject of blog posts by social media companies (http://www.deadsoci.al/blog/105-post-death-control-of-digital-assets , http://www.socialmediastrategist.co.uk/blog/1-news/215-digital-assets) and lawyers (http://www.kctrust.co.uk/blog/2014/post-death-control-of-digital-assets).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://uniofbath.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=d7d14ff5-f6b3-4b84-870a-b8eb75ea0f8...
 
Description CNN: Do Web users fear the digital Reaper? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article sparked further requests from other newspapers.

News article led to invitation to participate in a radio program reaching over 1 million listeners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
URL http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/01/13/digital.death/
 
Description CPDP 2014, Panel. Post-Mortem Privacy: Exploring Deceased's interests in a Digital World 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Audience discussion after a packed session (audience approx 100 )

The panel discussion was reported on internationally by privacy and information policy consultants - eg - http://www.genealogicalprivacy.org/2014/02/05/death-and-privacy-part-iii/.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.create.ac.uk/blog/2014/01/21/create-partners-with-computers-privacy-and-data-protection-c...
 
Description Cheltenham Literature Festival 2013. Re-wired: Memory in the Digital Age 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk sparked questions and discussion.

Subsequent invitation to contribute to the AHRC-supported book Memory in the 21st Century (in press), along with authors including Will Self and AS Byatt
Submission of a research proposal to the AHRC Care for the Future: Thinking Forward through the Past theme.
Video highlights of the talk and subsequent interview made available to the public, http://thememorynetwork.net/re-wired-memory-in-the-digital-age-video/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://www.sciculture.ac.uk/2013/12/03/saving-our-memory-for-the-future-1/
 
Description Edinburgh International Science Festival: Panel "A Death Online" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panel discussion chaired by Alex Krotowski, at Summerhall in Edinburgh.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.sciencefestival.co.uk
 
Description Interviewed by The Times 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Publication of article in The Times on 27/12/2014, "Live streaming takes funerals into the digital age"

The article reached approximately 400,000 members of the public, raising awareness of changing digital practices around death.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL https://gabriellaswerling.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/funerals.png
 
Description Media article - The Atlantic 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The interview contributed significantly to an article in The Atlantic.

The article reached a readership of 400,000 members of the public worldwide.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/12/death-on-the-internet-the-rise-of-livestreamin...
 
Description Neon Festival: Living a Digital Life and Dying a Digital Death! 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited talk at Nilipul Foundation as part of the NeON Digital Arts Festival 2013 led to discussion with young adults, youth workers and a Buddhist Lama who attended the talk.

The organiser of the event and youth workers reported ongoing discussion amongst the young adults who attended the talk, and reflection on their digital identity. 4 of the attendees elected to participate in my ongoing research as a result of coming to the talk.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://www.northeastofnorth.com/?event=living-digital-life-dying-digital-death
 
Description News article: Faceless Facebook reps help bereaved families Look Back 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact News article reached 7,863 readers worldwide (71% in USA, 7% UK, also Australia and other countries).

News article syndicated online to news sites including theweek.com (4,898), m.theweek.com (1,438), theconversation.com (691), counter.theconversation.edu.au (79). The article has the highest readership of any The Conversation article at the University of Dundee currently.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL https://theconversation.com/faceless-facebook-reps-help-bereaved-families-look-back-23741
 
Description News article: You can linger longer with a digital death 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article reached 1841 readers worldwide.

Article syndicated worldwide, including to theconversation.com (556 readers), phys.org (482), www.realclearscience.com (289), cloud.feedly.com (63).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL https://theconversation.com/you-can-linger-longer-with-a-digital-death-17245
 
Description Panel discussion: DEATH AND POST-MORTEM PRIVACY IN THE DIGITAL AGE 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation paper presentation
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Panel discussion at the Amsterdam Privacy Conference.

The panel discussion will be held at a cross-disciplinary audience, and involves lawyers, a forensic anthropologist, psychologist, & technology researchers, from the Uk and Finland.

Fostering critical academic debate around digital privacy issues
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
URL http://www.apc2012.org/content/post-mortum-privacy
 
Description Poster display at Royal Society of Edinburgh 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Poster display

The posters focussed on personal narratives of supporting a loved one dying at home. They led to informal discussions at the venue with health professionals, academics and members of the public, who were stimulated to consider this topic from both personal and professional perspectives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/events/programmes/2013-14/In%20Memoriam.pdf
 
Description Public workshop at Royal Society of Edinburgh In Memoriam (public engagement event) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Research workshop with members of the public,. The workshop sparked reflection and extensive discussion on ownership of digital assets post-mortem.

The workshops generated insights into ownership of digital assets post-mortem which will be disseminated through academic publication.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/events/programmes/2013-14/In%20Memoriam.pdf
 
Description Remember-a-Charity media campaign 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Remember-a-Charity represents a collaboration between over 140 UK charities, who work together to encourage more people to consider leaving a charitable gift in their will, after they've looked after their family and friends.

In 2011, they staged a media campaign through local radio, to enourage people to think about writing a will. As part of this campaign, I was invited to discuss the issues around bequeathing Digital Assets. Through a series of live and pre-recorded broadcasts, I sparked debate about writing a will and leaving money to charity.

reached an audience of around 1.1 million people via local radio programs
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
URL http://www.rememberacharity.org.uk/news/millions-of-pounds-at-risk-as-people-overlook-digital-assets...
 
Description The Sunday Post: Why you should make plans for digital death 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article (13-2-2011) featured quotes from Moncur on issues to consider around digital legacy. Newspaper has a readership of across Scotland.

The article reached a readership of 810,000 at time of publication of the article. http://media.info/newspapers/titles/sunday-post/readership-figures
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
URL http://www.sundaypost.com/
 
Description UTS Australia - Creativity and Cognition seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards.

Ongoing discussion re collaboration on publications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description UTS Materialising Memories seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The talk sparked exploration of opportunities for international, interdisciplinary collaboration.

Invitation to deliver a guest lecture to undergraduate students at UTS made to Moncur.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.materialisingmemories.com/events/september-talks-and-mini-symposium/
 
Description University of Melbourne seminar. Digital Memorials: Memorialization Practice within a Networked Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact This invited talk was attended by researchers and students at the University of Melbourne, including computer scientists, sociologists and health experts. The talk was filmed and made available to the public via YouTube.

Following on from this talk, I was invited to act as external examiner for Joji Mori, a PhD student whose focus is digital memorials in Australia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zDMNinm750