Written by: Haim Ravia and Dotan Hammer
The Knesset (the Israeli parliament) has approved the enactment of the Posthumous Access to Digital Content Bill, 2024. This law allows users of digital services to designate “family members or other close individuals” to access their digital content accounts after their death.
The legislation allows individuals to decide how their personal digital content will be managed posthumously or if they become incapacitated. Users can choose to grant access to their content to designated individuals. Given the increasing use of digital platforms and social media, there is growing concern about managing personal information when a person can no longer oversee their affairs due to death or health issues.
Under the law, digital content service providers must establish policies for handling the content of deceased users. Providers will be required to regularly inform users about the policy and their choices. However, this requirement will not apply to interpersonal communication services, such as person-to-person messaging. Additionally, the Minister of Justice, with approval from the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, will have the authority to exclude certain services from this requirement.
The law will take effect in July 2025 and will apply to all service providers targeting users in Israel, regardless of whether they operate from within or outside Israel.
Click here to read the Digital Content Law, 2024. (In Hebrew)
