Digital Afterlife - Ethical Considerations and Data Legacy

Explore the ethical implications of digital afterlives in this thought-provoking USENIX Enigma Conference talk. Delve into the history of using technology to contact the deceased and examine how our digital footprints are creating seeds for a genuine digital afterlife. Investigate tough ethical questions surrounding digital ghosts, including legal status, ownership of digital remains, and potential misuse by hackers. Consider the implications of donating metadata to science and how current software design decisions may impact digital legacies in the future. Learn about the challenges faced by digital services in handling deceased users' data and gain insights into responsible design practices for respecting the wishes of the dead.

Intro
Ghost in the Machine
History Lesson
Echo Metadata
Applications
Data minimization
Legacy contact
Conclusion