MP calls for digital legacy campaign to protect data after death

An MP has called for the Dutch government to launch a campaign to encourage people to ensure their online accounts can be accessed after their death.

Around eight in 10 people have not made plans for their digital legacy, such as bank accounts, photographs, investments and social media, Barbara Kathmann, an MP for the left-wing opposition party PRO said.

“It can lead to really serious bureaucratic situations,” Kathmann said. “You don’t want to be dealing with all this hassle when you’re grieving.”

Relatives can find themselves shut out of mobile phones that are locked by fingerprints or face recognition, or unable to get into email and social media accounts that are protected by passwords.

They may also be unable to access savings to pay for a funeral or retrieve information that they need to comply with tax and inheritance rules.

Kathmann told NOS the government should launch an awareness campaign and organise courses to help people, especially the elderly, secure their digital legacy.

The call was backed by Josanne Ganzevles, of digital campaign group Alliantie Digitaal Samenleven, which has started its own eight-point plan called Data na de Dood (Data after death).

“You’re leaving your relatives with a dilemma if you don’t make any plans,” Ganzevles said.

The plan covers points such as making a list of online accounts and how to ensure people have access to the most common service providers such as Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google and Apple, as well as how to pass on mobile phone contracts.

Ganzevles called for the government to go further by making it compulsory for social media platforms to give users options to protect their data after their death. Some platforms have arrangements in place, but others do not. “That is confusing for people,” she said.