Digital Afterlife & Data Privacy Concerns - The digital realm has become an integral part of human life, existing alongside the physical realm [4][5] - Individuals are increasingly concerned about the fate of their digital selves after death, including social media accounts and online data [5][15] - Digital platforms are evolving to monetize grief, such as creating chatbots of deceased individuals [17] - Technology is designed to remember rather than forget, raising concerns about the persistence of digital data [18] Internet Structure & Data Exposure - The internet consists of three layers: the surface web (emails, apps, social media), the deep web (browser cache, metadata, API data), and the dark web (traded personal information) [7][10][12] - Users often grant extensive permissions to applications on their phones without fully understanding the implications [11][12] - A significant amount of personal data is stored online, including credit card subscriptions and application permissions, often without users' full awareness [9][11] Risks & Implications - The continued existence of digital data after death poses cyber risks, including fraud and identity theft [18][19] - There is a lack of legal frameworks to allow loved ones to manage or remove a person's digital presence after death [20] - Ethical concerns arise regarding the use of personal memories and data without consent after death [21] - Philosophical questions are raised about closure and dignity in the digital realm [21][22] Call to Action & Policy Recommendations - There is a need to acknowledge and address the problem of digital afterlife and data management [22] - Discussions about digital wills and data management should occur in families, boardrooms, and policy-making settings [23] - Increased awareness is needed regarding the data collection practices of apps and online platforms [23] - Policy ecosystems and legal frameworks are required to enable individuals to control their digital legacy and allow for the removal of data after death [24]