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Tech Report: Google Offers Tools For Users In The Afterlife

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Google has introduced a new tool that lets users decide what happens to their online presence if they pass away.

It's called the inactive account manager. Basically, it lets you decide how long your account needs to be inactive for whatever reason. You could be dead, you could be on a really long vacation, or you might just decide that after three months, it's time for someone else to take over your account.

It's up to you to decide what happens when the time frame you have chosen arrives. Your account can be automatically deleted or you could have trusted people access it. Of course, this includes your Gmail, Goolge Drive, Google Voice, YouTube and the like.

Google's Inactive Account Manager Could Be Used In Case Of Death

While I think it's a very cool service, people really need to consider what they are willing to share if that's the option they choose. You need to think about the possibility that there's something in your Gmail that you wouldn't want others to see. Whatever the case there's an opportunity here for your digital remains to live longer than yourself.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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