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Digital legacy refers to the total assets and personal traces that remain in a person’s digital environment after death. It includes data stored on cloud platforms, social media accounts, emails, photos and videos, as well as financial assets such as cryptocurrency and online investment accounts.
In the past two years, inheritance has expanded beyond paper records, real estate and bank accounts. A World Economic Forum report says digital assets are shifting from being treated as mere data storage to becoming entities with direct economic value.
For younger users who spend an average of 7–9 hours a day online, digital holdings can include advertising-driven TikTok channels, unique NFT collections, and game accounts that may be worth thousands of USD. Deloitte data cited in the article shows that more than 62% of Gen Z own at least one type of digital asset that can be converted into cash, creating a new need for managing and transferring digital legacies.
As the digital-legacy economy grows, major technology companies have introduced tools to manage inactive accounts and posthumous access. Google’s “Inactive Account Manager” allows users to designate a data recipient or set accounts to auto-delete after a period of inactivity. Apple’s “Digital Legacy” lets users appoint a “digital heir” with access to data after death.
Service providers have also expanded. Companies such as Everplans and SafeBeyond offer “digital wills,” storing passwords and guiding asset transfer step by step. Market Research Future forecasts that the digital-legacy management software segment will grow at nearly 19% annually from now to 2030, positioning it as a promising startup ecosystem.
The market is not limited to financial value. The article notes that some Chinese firms are testing a controversial approach using AI to reproduce deceased individuals through simulated images, voice and behavior based on data such as videos and recordings.
According to Zhang Zewei, founder of Super Brain, the concept originated from a father’s wish to reconnect with his son who died in an accident. The company has processed hundreds of orders, mainly from customers seeking to preserve memories. Pricing ranges from a few hundred yuan for a video re-creation to around 100,000 yuan for a personalized chatbot.
Despite the consolation such products may offer, experts warn of risks. At the UN AI Summit, experts cautioned that without clear regulation, AI clones could be misused to monetize a deceased person’s identity. The article also highlights concerns about “AI hallucinations” and data misalignment, which could lead clones to make statements that distort the deceased’s life. Additional concerns include psychological dependency and hindering natural grieving.
To address these issues, researchers have proposed a “digital consent” framework, giving individuals absolute rights to decide whether they want to become an algorithm after death.
In East Asia, the management and transfer of digital assets is described as growing rapidly. In Japan, “Shukatsu” services cover not only material assets but also data handover. Korea is seeing increasing platforms to manage digital legacies. In China, online funeral services and digital memorials are said to thrive on WeChat, reflecting new demand for digital-life services.
In the West, the article says approaches focus on building legal frameworks. In the United States and the European Union, regulations are designed to ensure heirs’ access to digital assets. It specifically references the “Revised Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act” (RUFADAA), which allows legally authorized parties to manage and distribute the digital assets of the deceased.
In Vietnam, the article notes that while the market is still in early stages, an energetic virtual asset market and a young population have begun to spur initial awareness. Discussions at the Vietnam Digital Economy Forum addressed protecting virtual assets as essential to the national economy.
The article cites the Summit of the Future (Summit of the Future 2024) as highlighting three pillars for sustainable development in the data economy: security technology, a consistent legal framework, and ethical standards. Looking ahead, it says building a domestic “Digital Charter” aligned with international standards will be key to protecting individual rights and turning dormant data into a more active economic resource.
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