Mint ·
Inheritance of online businesses in India: What happens to a creator’s digital assets after death?
Succession planning for account access, earnings, intellectual property and commercial agreements is essential.
I am a content creator from Bengaluru. My monetised YouTube Channel and Instagram page support a significant part of my family’s income. If something were to happen to me suddenly, what would happen to my accounts on both platforms?—Name withheld on request
The platforms follow a strict privacy policy and restrict the handing over of passwords to another person, even in the case of death. The death of an account holder may not automatically give family members access to the deceased person’s account.
Family members or legal representatives can submit a request to Google regarding a deceased person’s Google Account. After verifying the request and reviewing the required documentation, Google may, in certain circumstances, provide some account content. They can also request that the deceased person’s Google Account be closed. Google does not provide passwords or guarantee access to all account data.
