Google unveils tool to help manage ‘digital afterlife’

Google has begun letting people plan what is to be done with their digital photos and other virtual belongings after they die or become incapacitated.

An ‘inactive account manager’ can be used to direct Google to pass on data from online venues such as Gmail, YouTube, or social network Google+ to particular people or be deleted after being dormant for too long.

“What should happen to your photos, emails, and documents when you stop using your account?” said Google in a message at an account settings page.