Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Digital Devices (Access for Next of Kin)

18 January 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Ian Paisley Jnr DUP North Antrim

Standards & Ethics

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Ian Paisley Jnr raised concerns about digital devices (access for next of kin) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Moves a Bill to grant the right of access to the digital devices of a dead or incapacitated person to their next of kin
  • Clarifies there is no legislative definition of 'digital asset' in the UK and no legislation governing personal representatives' access
  • Highlights the 25 billion worth of assets held online in password-protected cloud storage solutions

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Ian Paisley Jnr DUP North Antrim

Moves a Bill to grant the right of access to the digital devices of a dead or incapacitated person to their next of kin, clarifying that there is no legislative definition of 'digital asset' in the UK and no legislation governing personal representatives’ access. He notes the support from the Government and mentions the importance of resetting the relationship between service providers and end users as per Baroness Beeban Kidron’s report. Paisley highlights the £25 billion worth of assets held online in password-protected cloud storage solutions, stressing that digital content is not owned by individuals and can be lost if proper provisions are not made.

Other contributors (1)
  • Ian Paisley Jnr DUP North Antrim

    Moves a Bill to grant next of kin the right to access deceased or incapacitated persons’ digital devices, codifying contents as possessions and avoiding legal action. He points out the challenges families face in accessing such assets due to cyber-security measures and tech companies' policies.

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