What happens to your data when you die? That question has become increasingly mainstream over the last two years. Thankfully, Google has launched a new tool that will enable users to determine a sending destination for their data in the event that they die. The company is the first account hosting service to provide a solution like this, in house. Previously, any one of us with a service account on the net would have to have had relied on third party applications to shut down or archive our accounts in the event of death. The new tool will apply to social networks, Gmail, Google+ and other accounts.

Google said in their blogpost:

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.

Users will be able to either have data deleted on their behalf after a set period of time, or have it archived and passed on to designated persons. According to Google, users can opt for their data to be trashed after three, six, nine or 12 months of inactivity.

The company added that before accounts c0uld be made inactive, they would contact the account holder with a text message as a last-ditch warning.

[Source: BBC News]