ETH 301 Case Module 1
Running Head: Email Privacy.
TUI, BUS301
Holly Walker
Case Email Privacy Module #1 27 April 2012 Dr. Johnny Vanneste
Today, social media has changed the world; the world revolves around a collection of digital footprints floating somewhere in cyberspace. So what happens to a digital footprint that has left behind after death? Who gets access to your digital footprints once death occurs? Websites have different policies on transitions of accounts in the event of death. When registering and signing up for certain websites, the user has to agree to certain privacy and policy agreements both for the user and the website company.
Some families are drawn by closure to reveal their loved ones emails and personal information. Usually, a will accompanied by insurance policies and specific documentation are set in place in the event of death. Today as the world changes, technology, social media, email, and websites track and record all movement. The World Wide Web allows the user to search for anything they desire, and communicate anywhere in the world. This also causes issues once death occurs.
Years ago prior to the World Wide Web, people wrote hand written letters, cards and other correspondence. When death occurred, the property of loved ones was divided by specific instructions from a will or by court orders. If the deceased left this type of property behind it was given to the family members. Today these correspondences still continue in a digital format requiring usernames and passwords. Many people have not included usernames and passwords into their wills or instructions in the event of their death.
USA Laws According to (Standler, 1998), “Reading e-mail during storage on a computer system is prohibited by federal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 2701-2711, Title II of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), provided that the system is "providing an electronic communication service to the public." This means, among other
TUI, BUS301
Holly Walker
Case Email Privacy Module #1 27 April 2012 Dr. Johnny Vanneste
Today, social media has changed the world; the world revolves around a collection of digital footprints floating somewhere in cyberspace. So what happens to a digital footprint that has left behind after death? Who gets access to your digital footprints once death occurs? Websites have different policies on transitions of accounts in the event of death. When registering and signing up for certain websites, the user has to agree to certain privacy and policy agreements both for the user and the website company.
Some families are drawn by closure to reveal their loved ones emails and personal information. Usually, a will accompanied by insurance policies and specific documentation are set in place in the event of death. Today as the world changes, technology, social media, email, and websites track and record all movement. The World Wide Web allows the user to search for anything they desire, and communicate anywhere in the world. This also causes issues once death occurs.
Years ago prior to the World Wide Web, people wrote hand written letters, cards and other correspondence. When death occurred, the property of loved ones was divided by specific instructions from a will or by court orders. If the deceased left this type of property behind it was given to the family members. Today these correspondences still continue in a digital format requiring usernames and passwords. Many people have not included usernames and passwords into their wills or instructions in the event of their death.
USA Laws According to (Standler, 1998), “Reading e-mail during storage on a computer system is prohibited by federal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 2701-2711, Title II of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), provided that the system is "providing an electronic communication service to the public." This means, among other
References: Herold, Rebecca (2005), page 2, Is There Privacy Beyond Death? http://www.privacyguidance.com/files/Privacy_Beyond_Death_Herold.pdf Standler, R. (1998). Privacy of E-Mail in the USA, Section II, (1) http://www.rbs2.com/email.htm Yahoo, (2008) Terms of Services, Section 27 NO Right of Survivorship and Non-Transferability, http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/utos-173.html