Exploring Swedish Perceptions on Post-Mortem Digital Data Management: Insights into Digital Legacy and Stewardship

This study explores the perceptions of Swedish individuals regarding the management of post-mortem digital data, focusing on control, privacy concerns, and attitudes toward digital inheritance and stewardship responsibilities. As digital interactions become increasingly integral to daily life, the handling of digital legacies after death presents significant privacy and ethical challenges. Despite Sweden’s advanced technological landscape, there is a notable lack of legal frameworks addressing post-mortem data management, placing the responsibility on the individual to plan for their digital afterlife. Through qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, this study investigates how Swedish individuals perceive the planning and control of their digital legacies and their willingness to act as stewards for others’ digital assets. The findings reveal that while many recognize the importance of managing digital legacies, proactive planning is uncommon, pointing to the “post-mortem privacy paradox”. Additionally, the study underscores the influence of interpersonal relationships on the willingness to assume the role of a steward. This study contributes valuable insights into the discussion on post-mortem data management in Sweden, offering recommendations for individuals and authorities to better navigate this area. This study also highlights potential directions for future research, including using quantitative methods to capture broader results in a Swedish context, such as examining differences between demographics or the impact of technical knowledge on digital legacy planning. Future studies could focus on the lack of awareness surrounding this topic and explore the experiences of individuals who have managed digital legacies, either voluntarily or involuntarily.