谷歌推出数据遗产处理工具 可删除可继承

谷歌将推出一项新功能，允许用户提前决定好自己身故或者停止使用网络后数据信息的处理方式，该功能适用于谷歌电子邮件、社交网站谷歌+以及其他相关账户。谷歌由此成为第一家主动针对网络数据遗产采取行动的互联网大公司。据悉，用户可以选择在账户连续不活动3个月、6个月、9个月或12个月后允许系统删除其账户的所有数据，或者将数据传输给指定接收人。为了避免误删，系统会在删除或传输数据之前给用户的备用邮箱发送提示邮件。

Google will allow users to decide what happens to their data after they die or become inactive online, the first major company to deal with the sensitive issue.

The feature applies to email, social network Google Plus and other accounts.

Users can choose to delete data after a set period of time, or pass it on to specific people.

Internet users around the world have expressed concern about what happens to their data after their demise.

"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," Google said in a blogpost.

California-based Google also owns YouTube, photo-sharing service Picasa and Blogger.

Google said users can opt to have their data deleted after three, six, nine or 12 months of inactivity. Alternatively, certain contacts can be sent data from some or all of their services.

However, the company said it would text a provided number or email a secondary email address to warn users before any action is taken.

People are increasingly placing content on social networks and data storage facilities hosted in cyberspace, or the "cloud".

Other companies have also attempted to tackle the questions that raises after a person's death. Facebook, as an example, allows users to "memorialise" an account.