Yahoo! Japan! launches! service! for! the! dead!

What could go wrong?

"The email is triggered by a third party to whom you bequeath a code to activate Endings . . ."

Let's hope this third party is able to keep the code from any pranksters.

Seriously folks

While it is tempting to poke fun at Yahoo, etc, the issue of what happens to our digital data once we are gone is something that needs to be properly addressed.

While I might not care (on account of being dead, for example) it might still have some impact on the few living ones who may care about me in some way. When stuff like bank accounts and other aspects of one's estate become virtual and there is no obvious paper print outs lying around my 2nd last resting place, how will those who should benefit from whatever I have to leave find them and access them?

A will is the obvious starting place, but how many would think of listing all on-line accounts in there (and updating them with the regularity they change at which is typically much shorter time-scales than a will) , and how to manage the passwords?

Yahoo is a service for the dead already.

Out of life autoreply:

I'm unable to reply to your e-mail right now, because I'm dead. I hope to return at some time in the future (if you believe in that sort of thing).

Re: The late Erroneous Cowstool

Dear Reg Commentards,

It's with deepest sadness, and a little regret that I have to announce to you all that on Thursday the 24th of July I passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning. With that in mind I would like to take the opportunity to invite you all to come and celebrate my life and achi ... No fecking way!