News

Actions

New law sets access rules for digital accounts

Posted at 2:49 AM, Mar 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-30 10:11:56-04

Facebook posts and emails of people who died could be accessed by a person designated in a will under legislation that Gov. Rick Snyder has signed.

Republican Rep. Anthony Forlini of Harrison Township says the measure signed Tuesday sets rules for how digital assets like pictures, emails, eBooks and music are bequeathed from one person to the next. It also allows digital information, including social media and website accounts to be treated like other assets after the owner dies.

Forlini says it wasn't easy to get tech companies and lawyers to agree on the rules.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says nine other states have passed laws addressing access to email, social media and other website accounts after the owner dies.

Bill No. 5034