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Would you deny others their wish to have their data deleted?


Actually, do living persons have the right to die? That's really not firmly established legally — the state has been saying no to suicide for a long time.

Not making a moral claim here, just pointing out that something that seems to be an individual right might not have strong legal precedence.


An excellent point. Compelling others to live no matter how great their pain or grim their prospects has much in common with compelling others to cede their likenesses after death no matter how much the usage might go against their wishes. In both cases, it's external collectivists demanding that an individual exist only for the benefit of other entities — either society at large, or private businesses.


> That's really not firmly established legally

Depends on where you live. Where I live, that's a resounding "yes, if you're mentally well enough to make that decision". Mostly applies to old people, and there's a process to prevent letting anyone with depression kill themselves, but the legal definitions are all taken care of.


And if you live in GA and are a medical brain dead, your family doesn’t even have the right to take you off of life support if you are pregnant and you must suffer…

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/06/07/nx...


No, but it definitely should not be automatic. I'm willing to bet that the vast majority would not choose to have their online information erased posthumously.


Do you agree with all the privacy invasive opt-out features in every commercial service?


I see that as a bit different, since we are talking about something posthumous here. Privacy is important while we're alive because it can have an impact on our future life. In death, we live on for the sake of our loved ones and the future of humanity, or at least that's how I see it.


Do others have a moral duty to allow businesses to exploit their likenesses the moment they die?


That's an issue about respect, not privacy. And dead people deserve it too.


True, but I would think it disrespectful to automatically delete everything that someone posted online after their death.


Can't say I was planning on it, no




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