Google Offers After Death Data Service

Google is now offering a service what the users will do after their death with the data they have on their account.

On Thursday, Google launched a tool called "Inactive Account Manager" to enable users to either delete the data in their account or send the date to friends after death.

"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," stated Google product manager Andreas Tuerk in a blog post.

The tool was made by Google's Data Liberation group, which has been working for many years to simplify the process of exporting data from Google services.

The Inactive Account Manager allows users to set a specific timeout period. If the account in question stay inactive for that period, Google will take the specified action. The settings are three, six, nine or 12 months. The users can also select trusted contacts to receive data from some or all of the following services: +1s; Blogger; Contacts and Circles; Drive; Gmail; Google+ Profiles, Pages and Streams; Picasa Web Albums; Google Voice and YouTube.

Google said that it considers several factors when determining inactivity, by assessing account sign-ins, Web history, usage of Gmail from any device and Android check-ins.

Google will alert users through text or email one month prior to any data is deleted or handed over to a third party.

This new service isn't the first time being brought up by the Tech Giant. According to AP, back in 2004, the family of a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq battled with Yahoo for access to his email account. Justin Ellsworth's family went to court over the matter, and was able to access to his account in April 2005.

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