New law to allow Facebook page access of deceased loved ones by friends, family on anvil

Washington, Apr 5 (ANI): A new legislation is being discussed in the United States that would give relatives and friends the right to manage social networking accounts belonging to their deceased loved ones.

At present, when Facebook learns of a death, it locks that person's account placing it in a memorialized state.

Company policy states it will provide the estate of the deceased with a download of the account data 'if prior consent is obtained from or decreed by the deceased or mandated by law.'

Now lawmakers and attorneys in at least two US states, Nebraska and Oklahoma, are considering proposals that would require Facebook and other social networks to grant access to loved ones when a family member dies, The Daily Mail reports.

The move would essentially make the site contents part of a person's digital estate.

According to the report, the legislation is being campaigned for by Karen Williams, whose son, Loren, died in a motorcycle crash.

The Oregon woman was left distraught after emailing Facebook asking administrators to maintain her 22-year-old's account, only for the company to change the password and block her efforts. (ANI)