Today the spontaneity of planning, which makes it possible to search for a place to eat while already out the door, forms habits making the avoidance of planning for death even easier. The compartmentalization of online selves makes discrete and care-full notifications difficult, and sadly the current viable option is mass broadcast. Direct and peripheral experience of the fallout of death in this new environment inspired the creation of this shared place for methods of using networks to exhibit care rather than exacerbate confusion. The wiki contains things like [[Wills|wills]] (what to do with corpus, corpse, etc), [[Mailing List Invite|notifications]] for far-flung communities, dealing with passwords, and [[Open Source Cadavers|donating one’s body to science in ways that support open research]]. All things here assume a commitment to open access, creative commons, and inclusion. Just as the internet is about creating, storing, and transmitting knowledge, this guide is about contributing to something larger than the individual. It’s about continuing to build the commons, establishing protocols for death in the digital. You are encouraged to edit, contribute, and refine this living document. Remnant questions are kept [[Remnant questions|here]] until more eloquently embedded elsewhere.

Components are divided up into ''documents'', ''accounts'', ''notifications'', and ''people''. Documents are centralized with accounts, which are propagated via notifications to people, as triggered by a notification from a person. This means only having to worry about keeping something up to date in '''one''' place -- a change to a will or to a website password simply happens in the place of storage, without needing to notify everyone involved. As people enter or leave the circle of trust, they can be added or removed from the notification pool. The notification mechanism is the one thing that has to remain consistent in this set up. It is important to consider not only your own desires, but also [[what other people might want or need]].

It should be possible to speak about death without fear. If '''you''' ''are'' in danger of harming yourself, please say as such directly, and [http://suicideprevention.wikia.com/wiki/International_Suicide_Prevention_Directory get help].

==Digital artifacts==
Executing wills can be a complicated thing, and there are additional snafus and hoops to jump through in granting digital rights postmortem, especially as most courts lack basic understanding of our home The Internet. These structures set up both mechanisms to get access to passwords outside a court of law, as well as making that access legitimate through bequeathing to individuals in via will. For example:
:I devise, bequeath, and give my technology to my ''relationship'', ''name''. If ''name'' is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath the technology to my ''relationship'', ''second name''.
:I devise, bequeath, and give my online profiles and digital assets, as primarily found in my password vault, to my ''relationship'', ''name''. If ''name'' is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath my online profiles and digital assets, as found in my password vault to my ''relationship'', ''second name''.
You '''need to tell people where your physical will is.'''

===Passwords and online accounts===
Security tends to prevent others from accessing accounts without your presence. In death, that absence is guaranteed. Thus, a quandary well covered in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_sharing secret sharing] and [http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jun/30/data-protection-internet this writeup from Cory Doctrow]. Split the password for decrypting a password vault in two, and give each half to two people. These four folk don't know who the others are, and should have no reason to talk to each other, except in case of death. You'll also need to store backup codes for two-step authentication.

The encrypted aggregated passwords file is stored in a place accessible remotely. It should auto-update with changes, rather than requiring upkeep. 1Password can also store encrypted notes, in which should be included instructions (also found in templates) and reminders of each of the tasks requested of people. A major thing to consider might be what to do with [[Online Accounts|accounts]].

But how will people know the time to act in that capacity has come, and how will they find each other? A mailing list, of course!

===Heir Rights and Digital Property===
* [http://gamepolitics.com/2014/08/19/delaware-passes-law-give-heirs-rights-digital-property#.VADsdPldV9k Delaware law gives heirs rights to digital properties], August 19, 2014 - GamePolitics

==A mailing list==
The mailing list might include both people who simply need to know as well as those who have agreed to take on certain [[Tasks to Consider|responsibilities]] at the time of death or incapacitation. These responsibilities include things like letting social or work contacts know, or getting into stuff and taking care of sensitive material before deploying open access mode. There's a set of people tasked with tending to the online accounts. The ideal is a closed notice of death to people, before it hits the rest of the internet. This eases the burden on any one person, while also providing a support network.

Send each of these people a [[Mailing List Invite|request for involvement]], and then (if they agree to be on the list) [[Instructions to People|instructions]] on how to use mailing lists in general and this one specifically. Then set up an [[Mailing List Auto Response|auto-responder]] to a mail posted to the list with instructions on what first steps are, and reminders of how to access information. In a continuing trend, templates for each of these things can be found in [http://networkedmortality.com/index.php?title=Category:Templates the template section of the wiki].

==Failure Modes==
===Control Systems are Delicate===
This is essentially setting up a control system for information dispensation and action upon demise. Control systems are delicate - single points of failure (like the mailing list not working) or weakest links (unclear directions for action) have to be considered and accounted for. As the point of this exercise is to 1) ease burdens on loved ones and 2) ensure open access intentions carry through past death, an example issue to consider in this set up is people getting falsely spooked and subsequently either a) leaking passwords / freaking out the internet or b) becoming jaded and inactive. One version of this might be a family member who had not been fully informed as to how the system set-up works posting to the list with a "hey how does this work?", triggering the auto-responder, causing some tasks to be executed. The cost of this would be the cognitive load of damage control and head-petting. To mitigate this and things like it, a part of the [[Mailing List Auto Response]] template is a "can you trust the message that triggered this?" prompt.

===Threat Model===
In infosec, considering what could go wrong in life and the structures built to respond to those incidents would be called a "threat model." What are anticipated complications, where do those come from, and what can be done to mitigate? This system is set up thus far as "more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law Murphy], less [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_and_Bob#Mallory Mallory]." Meaning it's anticipating death and issues with the deployment (accidental or otherwise) of the postmortem setup as occurring by accident, not malice. IE, not worrying about someone intentionally cracking the password vault (or setting up a spoof one for loading passwords into). Some people '''do''' need to worry about these things, and it should be a part of their consideration when setting up a system which takes care of their digital assets postmortem. Please make space on this wiki to document those cases and resulting structures as well.

Using your threat model, compare unintended consequences (mid to low probability false alarm and associated cognitive load in damage control; a vanishingly small likelihood of a scenario in which people loved and trusted are secretly horrible people who seek out the other password holders who 'also' end up being horrible and sneaky, and together they unlock all the passwords, and the falsehoods they post on social media are actually believed by people (thanks, anxiety-brain, for that worst-case-scenario!)) with non-action (the amazing set of people in life have emotional and chaotic things to deal with which could have been avoided; worthwhile but unpolished work is not released into the world for others to make use of) and decide the how to act (or not). Then build in [[Threat Model Responses|mitigation and fall-backs]] into the structure of this control system. Here's one example:
====[[Death Drill|Yearly Test]]====
Send a yearly test email to The List once a year. Do all the mechanisms still work? Do people know where to find files, and can they gain access? If the password on the vault has changed, this is a good time to be sure the halves-holders have the newest version. It's also a good time to get assurance that people 'want' to be on the list, and are willing to perform their tasks - do they respond to a yearly message? If not, you might not want to include them on the actuality dire eventually.

==[[Open Source Cadavers|A body]]==
Is it possible to donate a cadaver with Open Access stipulations? In this section of the wiki, the logistics, law, and advocacy are explored.

Why is this so important? While any one contributor is unlikely to be a special snowflake for medical research, it's possible that, if enough people sign up for this, someone involved will be a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks Henrietta Lacks]. As it's almost statistically impossible that any single person would be that profitable to an organization, it's likely to be a risk worth taking on the receiving organization's end. But it's a downstream obligation that, especially if it becomes common practice, opens up the benefits of medical research to a much wider part of the population than currently benefits.

This downstream obligation could get tricky because the individual defining it won't have authority to uphold the obligations. They'll be dead. Granting authority in the living will and will via power of attorney is therefore essential. Ideally, the organization receiving the cadaver will voluntarily comply -- especially likely if the org is federally funded, because they'll be under the federal open access mandate. Combining these two things manifests as WILLING a body, as the body becomes an object after death, and attaching obligations accordingly.

===[[Historical examples of how corpses are handled]]===

===Pledge to donate===
Be a part of open source cadavers by [http://bit.ly/oscdonate pledging to donate your body]. As the list grows, more attention will be paid to this as a viable model.

==Completion==
Please remember, dear geeks - understanding the theory of this is NOT the same as ACTUALLY doing it. OSC sets up mechanisms for granting digital rights, for passing on passwords, for slow-release information, and for Open Access to information possible from death. Seeing the importance and care of fulfilling these steps means '''doing it'''. Every possible barrier to showing care for loved ones, and commitments to causes even postmortem has been removed. All it takes is a little premortem planning.

=Other Awesome Groups, Writeups, Etc=
==Relevant Writeups and Comics==
* [http://www.jedbrubaker.com/ Jed Brubaker's] PhD on [http://www.jedbrubaker.com/death-and-the-social-network-the-persistence-of-digital-identity/ "Death and the Social Network: the Persistence of Digital Identity"], in collaboration with Facbeook
* [https://medium.com/message/networks-without-networks-7644933a3100 The Sixth Stage of Grief Is Retro-computing]
* [http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9201661/i-am-ready-to-talk-about-my-death-is-anyone-else/ I am ready to talk about my death, is anyone else?]
* [http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/12/04/for-those-left-behind-digital-lifeline/W8r03Mb8dISXc7BywC6f5J/story.html The Globe on digital lifelines]
* [http://www.jerkcity.com/_jerkcity5805.html Clear my cache]

==Rad Groups==
* [http://www.thedigitalbeyond.com/ The Digital Beyond]
* [http://getyourshittogether.org/ Get Your Shit Together]
* [http://www.personalgenomes.org/ Personal Genome Project]
* [http://deathsalon.org/meetings/death-salon-uk-2014/ Death Salon UK]
* [http://www.bath.ac.uk/cdas/ University of Bath: The Center for Death & Society]
* [http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/members/your-mortician Order of the Good Death]
* [http://morbidanatomymuseum.org/ Morbid Anatomy Museum]

==Mentions of note==
* [https://civic.mit.edu/blog/willowbl00/what-is-death-in-a-networked-age Center for Civic Media Blog]
* [http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2014/10/what-are-digital-rights-after-death-in-the-networked-age/ PBS Idea Lab]
* [http://blog.bl00cyb.org/2014/11/networked-mortality/ willowbl00 blog]

2014-10-22T14:53:19Z

Bl00: added in from convo with PGP

Main Page

2014-10-22T14:50:10Z

Bl00: added links and other groups

Today the spontaneity of planning, which makes it possible to search for a place to eat while already out the door, forms habits making the avoidance of planning for death even easier. The compartmentalization of online selves makes discrete and care-full notifications difficult, and sadly the current viable option is mass broadcast. Direct and peripheral experience of the fallout of death in this new environment inspired the creation of this shared place for methods of using networks to exhibit care rather than exacerbate confusion. The wiki contains things like [[Wills|wills]] (what to do with corpus, corpse, etc), [[Mailing List Invite|notifications]] for far-flung communities, dealing with passwords, and [[Open Source Cadavers|donating one’s body to science in ways that support open research]]. All things here assume a commitment to open access, creative commons, and inclusion. Just as the internet is about creating, storing, and transmitting knowledge, this guide is about contributing to something larger than the individual. It’s about continuing to build the commons, establishing protocols for death in the digital. You are encouraged to edit, contribute, and refine this living document. Remnant questions are kept [[Remnant questions|here]] until more eloquently embedded elsewhere.

Components are divided up into ''documents'', ''accounts'', ''notifications'', and ''people''. Documents are centralized with accounts, which are propagated via notifications to people, as triggered by a notification from a person. This means only having to worry about keeping something up to date in '''one''' place -- a change to a will or to a website password simply happens in the place of storage, without needing to notify everyone involved. As people enter or leave the circle of trust, they can be added or removed from the notification pool. The notification mechanism is the one thing that has to remain consistent in this set up.

It should be possible to speak about death without fear. If '''you''' ''are'' in danger of harming yourself, please say as such directly, and [http://suicideprevention.wikia.com/wiki/International_Suicide_Prevention_Directory get help].

==Digital artifacts==
Executing wills can be a complicated thing, and there are additional snafus and hoops to jump through in granting digital rights postmortem, especially as most courts lack basic understanding of our home The Internet. These structures set up both mechanisms to get access to passwords outside a court of law, as well as making that access legitimate through bequeathing to individuals in via will. For example:
:I devise, bequeath, and give my technology to my ''relationship'', ''name''. If ''name'' is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath the technology to my ''relationship'', ''second name''.
:I devise, bequeath, and give my online profiles and digital assets, as primarily found in my password vault, to my ''relationship'', ''name''. If ''name'' is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath my online profiles and digital assets, as found in my password vault to my ''relationship'', ''second name''.
You '''need to tell people where your physical will is.'''

===Passwords and online accounts===
Security tends to prevent others from accessing accounts without your presence. In death, that absence is guaranteed. Thus, a quandary well covered in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_sharing secret sharing] and [http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jun/30/data-protection-internet this writeup from Cory Doctrow]. Split the password for decrypting a password vault in two, and give each half to two people. These four folk don't know who the others are, and should have no reason to talk to each other, except in case of death. You'll also need to store backup codes for two-step authentication.

The encrypted aggregated passwords file is stored in a place accessible remotely. It should auto-update with changes, rather than requiring upkeep. 1Password can also store encrypted notes, in which should be included instructions (also found in templates) and reminders of each of the tasks requested of people. A major thing to consider might be what to do with [[Online Accounts|accounts]].

But how will people know the time to act in that capacity has come, and how will they find each other? A mailing list, of course!

==A mailing list==
The mailing list might include both people who simply need to know as well as those who have agreed to take on certain [[Tasks to Consider|responsibilities]] at the time of death or incapacitation. These responsibilities include things like letting social or work contacts know, or getting into stuff and taking care of sensitive material before deploying open access mode. There's a set of people tasked with tending to the online accounts. The ideal is a closed notice of death to people, before it hits the rest of the internet. This eases the burden on any one person, while also providing a support network.

Send each of these people a [[Mailing List Invite|request for involvement]], and then (if they agree to be on the list) [[Instructions to People|instructions]] on how to use mailing lists in general and this one specifically. Then set up an [[Mailing List Auto Response|auto-responder]] to a mail posted to the list with instructions on what first steps are, and reminders of how to access information. In a continuing trend, templates for each of these things can be found in [http://networkedmortality.com/index.php?title=Category:Templates the template section of the wiki].

==Failure Modes==
===Control Systems are Delicate===
This is essentially setting up a control system for information dispensation and action upon demise. Control systems are delicate - single points of failure (like the mailing list not working) or weakest links (unclear directions for action) have to be considered and accounted for. As the point of this exercise is to 1) ease burdens on loved ones and 2) ensure open access intentions carry through past death, an example issue to consider in this set up is people getting falsely spooked and subsequently either a) leaking passwords / freaking out the internet or b) becoming jaded and inactive. One version of this might be a family member who had not been fully informed as to how the system set-up works posting to the list with a "hey how does this work?", triggering the auto-responder, causing some tasks to be executed. The cost of this would be the cognitive load of damage control and head-petting. To mitigate this and things like it, a part of the [[Mailing List Auto Response]] template is a "can you trust the message that triggered this?" prompt.

===Threat Model===
In infosec, considering what could go wrong in life and the structures built to respond to those incidents would be called a "threat model." What are anticipated complications, where do those come from, and what can be done to mitigate? This system is set up thus far as "more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law Murphy], less [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_and_Bob#Mallory Mallory]." Meaning it's anticipating death and issues with the deployment (accidental or otherwise) of the postmortem setup as occurring by accident, not malice. IE, not worrying about someone intentionally cracking the password vault (or setting up a spoof one for loading passwords into). Some people '''do''' need to worry about these things, and it should be a part of their consideration when setting up a system which takes care of their digital assets postmortem. Please make space on this wiki to document those cases and resulting structures as well.

Using your threat model, compare unintended consequences (mid to low probability false alarm and associated cognitive load in damage control; a vanishingly small likelihood of a scenario in which people loved and trusted are secretly horrible people who seek out the other password holders who 'also' end up being horrible and sneaky, and together they unlock all the passwords, and the falsehoods they post on social media are actually believed by people (thanks, anxiety-brain, for that worst-case-scenario!)) with non-action (the amazing set of people in life have emotional and chaotic things to deal with which could have been avoided; worthwhile but unpolished work is not released into the world for others to make use of) and decide the how to act (or not). Then build in [[Threat Model Responses|mitigation and fall-backs]] into the structure of this control system. Here's one example:
====Yearly Test====
Send a yearly test email to The List once a year. Do all the mechanisms still work? Do people know where to find files, and can they gain access? If the password on the vault has changed, this is a good time to be sure the halves-holders have the newest version. It's also a good time to get assurance that people 'want' to be on the list, and are willing to perform their tasks - do they respond to a yearly message? If not, you might not want to include them on the actuality dire eventually.

==[[Open Source Cadavers|A body]]==
Is it possible to donate a cadaver with Open Access stipulations? In this section of the wiki, the logistics, law, and advocacy are explored.

Why is this so important? While any one contributor is unlikely to be a special snowflake for medical research, it's possible that, if enough people sign up for this, someone involved will be a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks Henrietta Lacks]. As it's almost statistically impossible that any single person would be that profitable to an organization, it's likely to be a risk worth taking on the receiving organization's end. But it's a downstream obligation that, especially if it becomes common practice, opens up the benefits of medical research to a much wider part of the population than currently benefits.

This downstream obligation could get tricky because the individual defining it won't have authority to uphold the obligations. They'll be dead. Granting authority in the living will and will via power of attorney is therefore essential. Ideally, the organization receiving the cadaver will voluntarily comply -- especially likely if the org is federally funded, because they'll be under the federal open access mandate. Combining these two things manifests as WILLING a body, as the body becomes an object after death, and attaching obligations accordingly.

===Pledge to donate===
Be a part of open source cadavers by [http://bit.ly/oscdonate pledging to donate your body]. As the list grows, more attention will be paid to this as a viable model.

==Completion==
Please remember, dear geeks - understanding the theory of this is NOT the same as ACTUALLY doing it. OSC sets up mechanisms for granting digital rights, for passing on passwords, for slow-release information, and for Open Access to information possible from death. Seeing the importance and care of fulfilling these steps means '''doing it'''. Every possible barrier to showing care for loved ones, and commitments to causes even postmortem has been removed. All it takes is a little premortem planning.

=Other Awesome Groups, Writeups, Etc=
==Relevant Writeups==
* [http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9201661/i-am-ready-to-talk-about-my-death-is-anyone-else/ I am ready to talk about my death, is anyone else?]

==Rad Groups==
* [http://www.personalgenomes.org/ Personal Genome Project]
* [http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/members/your-mortician Order of the Good Death]
* [http://morbidanatomymuseum.org/ Morbid Anatomy Museum]

==Mentions of note==
* [https://civic.mit.edu/blog/willowbl00/what-is-death-in-a-networked-age Center for Civic Media Blog]
* [http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2014/10/what-are-digital-rights-after-death-in-the-networked-age/ PBS Idea Lab]

Inquiry to Programs

2014-10-21T03:22:12Z

Bl00: Protected "Inquiry to Programs" ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite))

Greetings,

My name is <name>, and I'm considering what to do with my cadaver upon death. My commitment to furthering scientific knowledge in research and experience is matched by my dedication to that knowledge and experience being freely accessible by all. To that end, I'd be honored to register with your program -- with one requirement -- a guarantee that any lessons, research, etc be released under open access. I'd be asking you to sign the following agreement:
:“It is the desire of the donor that research, insights, and biological products emerging from the donation become goods that benefit the public. As such, the Recipient Institution agrees that data and scholarly articles arising from the donation will be available under terms no more restrictive than those mandated by the U.S. Government’s policy on [http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/ostp_public_access_memo_2013.pdf Expanding Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Research] (PDF). The Recipient Institution further agrees that biological products including reagents will be made available on a non-exclusive basis to qualified researchers and that any patents obtained as a result of the donation will be licensed on a non-exclusive basis.”
Ideally, if my cadaver is used for medical practice, the process of that practice will be recorded for edX or the like. I'm happy to sort out release of privacy etc for this to be possible.

The open access community is a committed and enthusiastic lot, and by agreeing to these terms, your group sets itself up to receive additional cadavers otherwise not available. You can find out more at [http://opensourcecadavers.com Open Source Cadavers].

[[Category:Templates]] [[Category: Cadavers]] [[Category: Premortem]]

Wills

2014-10-21T03:22:05Z

Bl00: Protected "Wills" ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite))

=LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ''your name''=

I, ''your name'', an adult residing at ''your address'' being of sound mind, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I revoke all wills and codicils previously made by me.

==ARTICLE I==
I appoint ''someone'' as my Personal Representative to administer this Will, and ask that ''preferred pronoun'' be permitted to serve without Court supervision and without posting bond. If ‘’someone’’ is unwilling or unable to serve, then I appoint ‘’someone else’’ to serve as my Personal Representative, and ask that ''preferred pronoun'' be permitted to serve without Court supervision and without posting bond.

==ARTICLE II==

I direct my Personal Representative to pay out of my residuary estate all of the expenses of my last illness, administration expenses, all legally enforceable creditor claims, all Federal estate taxes, state inheritance taxes, and all other governmental charges imposed by reason of my death without seeking reimbursement from or charging any person for any part of the taxes and charges paid, and if necessary, reasonable funeral expenses, including the cost of any suitable marker for my grave, without the necessity of an order of court approving said expenses.

==ARTICLE III==

I devise, bequeath, and give my ‘’thing’’ to my ‘’relationship’’, ‘’name’’. If ‘’name’’ is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath the ‘’thing’’ to my ‘’relationship’’, ‘’name’’.

I devise, bequeath, and give my technology to my ‘’relationship’’, ‘’name’’. If ‘’name’’ is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath the technology to my ‘’relationship’’, ‘’other name’’.

I devise, bequeath, and give my online profiles and digital assets, as found in 1Password, to my ‘’relationship’’, ‘’name’’. If ‘’name’’ is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath these to my ‘’relationship’’, ‘’other name’’.

==ARTICLE IV==

I devise, bequeath, and give all the rest and remainder of my residuary estate as follows:
XX% to ‘’name’’. ‘’Other person’’ if ''preferred pronoun'' is unable to accept.
XX% to ‘’name’’. ‘’Other person’’ if ''preferred pronoun'' is unable to accept.
XX% to ‘’name’’. ‘’Other person’’ if ''preferred pronoun'' is unable to accept.

==ARTICLE V==

Should any beneficiary not survive me by 30 days, their share shall be distributed to their then surviving children in equal shares.

_____________________
''your name''

SELF-PROVING AFFIDAVIT

The instrument, consisting of this and X (x) typewritten pages was signed and acknowledged by Testator as her Last Will and Testament in our presence, and we, at ‘’preferred pronoun’’ request, and in ‘’preferred pronoun’’ presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses.

Under penalties for perjury, we, the undersigned Testator and witnesses declare:

# That the Testator executed this instrument as ''preferred pronoun'' Will;
# That in the presence of witnesses, the Testator signed or acknowledge ''preferred pronoun'' signature already made, or directed another to sign for ''preferred pronoun'' in ''preferred pronoun'' presence;
# That the Testator executed the Will as ''preferred pronoun'' free and voluntary act for the purposes expressed in it;
# That each of the witnesses, in the presence of the Testator and of each other, signed the Will as witness;
# That the Testator was of sound mind; and
# That, to the best of ''preferred pronoun'' knowledge, the Testator was at the time eighteen (18) or more years of age.

All of which is attested to this ____ day of __________ 20___.

_____________________
''your name''

_____________________
Witness

_____________________
Witness

[[Category:Templates]]

Online Accounts

2014-10-21T03:21:59Z

Bl00: Protected "Online Accounts" ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite))

How can online accounts be shut down in a respectful way to the deceased, to those who would mourn them?

http://belopotosky.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/robertmontgomery2.jpg

==Metadata for History and Academia==
Is there a way to donate data from social networks to academic institutions or a shared repository for future historians and anthropologists?

Main Page

2014-10-21T03:21:55Z

Bl00: Protected "Main Page" ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite))

Today the spontaneity of planning, which makes it possible to search for a place to eat while already out the door, forms habits making the avoidance of planning for death even easier. The compartmentalization of online selves makes discrete and care-full notifications difficult, and sadly the current viable option is mass broadcast. Direct and peripheral experience of the fallout of death in this new environment inspired the creation of this shared place for methods of using networks to exhibit care rather than exacerbate confusion. The wiki contains things like [[Wills|wills]] (what to do with corpus, corpse, etc), [[Mailing List Invite|notifications]] for far-flung communities, dealing with passwords, and [[Open Source Cadavers|donating one’s body to science in ways that support open research]]. All things here assume a commitment to open access, creative commons, and inclusion. Just as the internet is about creating, storing, and transmitting knowledge, this guide is about contributing to something larger than the individual. It’s about continuing to build the commons, establishing protocols for death in the digital. You are encouraged to edit, contribute, and refine this living document. Remnant questions are kept [[Remnant questions|here]] until more eloquently embedded elsewhere.

Components are divided up into ''documents'', ''accounts'', ''notifications'', and ''people''. Documents are centralized with accounts, which are propagated via notifications to people, as triggered by a notification from a person. This means only having to worry about keeping something up to date in '''one''' place -- a change to a will or to a website password simply happens in the place of storage, without needing to notify everyone involved. As people enter or leave the circle of trust, they can be added or removed from the notification pool. The notification mechanism is the one thing that has to remain consistent in this set up.

It should be possible to speak about death without fear. If '''you''' ''are'' in danger of harming yourself, please say as such directly, and [http://suicideprevention.wikia.com/wiki/International_Suicide_Prevention_Directory get help].

==Digital artifacts==
Executing wills can be a complicated thing, and there are additional snafus and hoops to jump through in granting digital rights postmortem, especially as most courts lack basic understanding of our home The Internet. These structures set up both mechanisms to get access to passwords outside a court of law, as well as making that access legitimate through bequeathing to individuals in via will. For example:
:I devise, bequeath, and give my technology to my ''relationship'', ''name''. If ''name'' is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath the technology to my ''relationship'', ''second name''.
:I devise, bequeath, and give my online profiles and digital assets, as primarily found in my password vault, to my ''relationship'', ''name''. If ''name'' is unable or unwilling to accept, I bequeath my online profiles and digital assets, as found in my password vault to my ''relationship'', ''second name''.
You '''need to tell people where your physical will is.'''

===Passwords and online accounts===
Security tends to prevent others from accessing accounts without your presence. In death, that absence is guaranteed. Thus, a quandary well covered in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_sharing secret sharing] and [http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jun/30/data-protection-internet this writeup from Cory Doctrow]. Split the password for decrypting a password vault in two, and give each half to two people. These four folk don't know who the others are, and should have no reason to talk to each other, except in case of death. You'll also need to store backup codes for two-step authentication.

The encrypted aggregated passwords file is stored in a place accessible remotely. It should auto-update with changes, rather than requiring upkeep. 1Password can also store encrypted notes, in which should be included instructions (also found in templates) and reminders of each of the tasks requested of people. A major thing to consider might be what to do with [[Online Accounts|accounts]].

But how will people know the time to act in that capacity has come, and how will they find each other? A mailing list, of course!

==A mailing list==
The mailing list might include both people who simply need to know as well as those who have agreed to take on certain [[Tasks to Consider|responsibilities]] at the time of death or incapacitation. These responsibilities include things like letting social or work contacts know, or getting into stuff and taking care of sensitive material before deploying open access mode. There's a set of people tasked with tending to the online accounts. The ideal is a closed notice of death to people, before it hits the rest of the internet. This eases the burden on any one person, while also providing a support network.

Send each of these people a [[Mailing List Invite|request for involvement]], and then (if they agree to be on the list) [[Instructions to People|instructions]] on how to use mailing lists in general and this one specifically. Then set up an [[Mailing List Auto Response|auto-responder]] to a mail posted to the list with instructions on what first steps are, and reminders of how to access information. In a continuing trend, templates for each of these things can be found in [http://networkedmortality.com/index.php?title=Category:Templates the template section of the wiki].

==Failure Modes==
===Control Systems are Delicate===
This is essentially setting up a control system for information dispensation and action upon demise. Control systems are delicate - single points of failure (like the mailing list not working) or weakest links (unclear directions for action) have to be considered and accounted for. As the point of this exercise is to 1) ease burdens on loved ones and 2) ensure open access intentions carry through past death, an example issue to consider in this set up is people getting falsely spooked and subsequently either a) leaking passwords / freaking out the internet or b) becoming jaded and inactive. One version of this might be a family member who had not been fully informed as to how the system set-up works posting to the list with a "hey how does this work?", triggering the auto-responder, causing some tasks to be executed. The cost of this would be the cognitive load of damage control and head-petting. To mitigate this and things like it, a part of the [[Mailing List Auto Response]] template is a "can you trust the message that triggered this?" prompt.

===Threat Model===
In infosec, considering what could go wrong in life and the structures built to respond to those incidents would be called a "threat model." What are anticipated complications, where do those come from, and what can be done to mitigate? This system is set up thus far as "more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law Murphy], less [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_and_Bob#Mallory Mallory]." Meaning it's anticipating death and issues with the deployment (accidental or otherwise) of the postmortem setup as occurring by accident, not malice. IE, not worrying about someone intentionally cracking the password vault (or setting up a spoof one for loading passwords into). Some people '''do''' need to worry about these things, and it should be a part of their consideration when setting up a system which takes care of their digital assets postmortem. Please make space on this wiki to document those cases and resulting structures as well.

Using your threat model, compare unintended consequences (mid to low probability false alarm and associated cognitive load in damage control; a vanishingly small likelihood of a scenario in which people loved and trusted are secretly horrible people who seek out the other password holders who 'also' end up being horrible and sneaky, and together they unlock all the passwords, and the falsehoods they post on social media are actually believed by people (thanks, anxiety-brain, for that worst-case-scenario!)) with non-action (the amazing set of people in life have emotional and chaotic things to deal with which could have been avoided; worthwhile but unpolished work is not released into the world for others to make use of) and decide the how to act (or not). Then build in [[Threat Model Responses|mitigation and fall-backs]] into the structure of this control system. Here's one example:
====Yearly Test====
Send a yearly test email to The List once a year. Do all the mechanisms still work? Do people know where to find files, and can they gain access? If the password on the vault has changed, this is a good time to be sure the halves-holders have the newest version. It's also a good time to get assurance that people 'want' to be on the list, and are willing to perform their tasks - do they respond to a yearly message? If not, you might not want to include them on the actuality dire eventually.

==[[Open Source Cadavers|A body]]==
Is it possible to donate a cadaver with Open Access stipulations? In this section of the wiki, the logistics, law, and advocacy are explored.

Why is this so important? While any one contributor is unlikely to be a special snowflake for medical research, it's possible that, if enough people sign up for this, someone involved will be a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks Henrietta Lacks]. As it's almost statistically impossible that any single person would be that profitable to an organization, it's likely to be a risk worth taking on the receiving organization's end. But it's a downstream obligation that, especially if it becomes common practice, opens up the benefits of medical research to a much wider part of the population than currently benefits.

This downstream obligation could get tricky because the individual defining it won't have authority to uphold the obligations. They'll be dead. Granting authority in the living will and will via power of attorney is therefore essential. Ideally, the organization receiving the cadaver will voluntarily comply -- especially likely if the org is federally funded, because they'll be under the federal open access mandate. Combining these two things manifests as WILLING a body, as the body becomes an object after death, and attaching obligations accordingly.

===Pledge to donate===
Be a part of open source cadavers by [http://bit.ly/oscdonate pledging to donate your body]. As the list grows, more attention will be paid to this as a viable model.

==Completion==
Please remember, dear geeks - understanding the theory of this is NOT the same as ACTUALLY doing it. OSC sets up mechanisms for granting digital rights, for passing on passwords, for slow-release information, and for Open Access to information possible from death. Seeing the importance and care of fulfilling these steps means '''doing it'''. Every possible barrier to showing care for loved ones, and commitments to causes even postmortem has been removed. All it takes is a little premortem planning.

List of Cadaver Programs

2014-10-21T03:21:51Z

Bl00: Protected "List of Cadaver Programs" ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite))

{| class="wikitable"
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! Website
! Status
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