DEPI — Digital Estate Planning Institute

DEPI Policy & Governance

DEPI Policy & Governance is the public-interest research and public-interest arm of the Digital Estate Planning Institute (DEPI).

Policy & Governance exists to advance evidence-based policy, research, and institutional dialogue on the emerging challenges of digital estates, digital remains, post-life data, and digital continuity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

As digital lives increasingly outlive individuals, Policy & Governance works to ensure that legal frameworks, institutional practices, and societal norms evolve in ways that are coherent, ethical, and human-centered.

DEPI Research Hub

DEPI produces original research, analysis, and institutional positions to inform standards development, policy discussions, and professional practice.

Research & Analysis
White Papers
Position Statements
Key Questions

Research & Analysis

Expert analysis at the intersection of law, technology, ethics, and digital continuity.

White Papers

In-depth, standards-aligned research publications produced or reviewed by DEPI.

Position Statements

DEPI’s formal perspectives on emerging issues where institutional clarity is needed.

Key Questions

Clarifications addressing common questions related to digital estate planning and digital continuity.

DEPI Policy & Governance In Depth

The Role of Policy & Governance

DEPI Policy & Governance serves as:

  • A research hub for emerging digital-estate challenges
  • A neutral convener for multidisciplinary dialogue
  • A policy advisory resource for institutions and stakeholders
  • A bridge between standards development and public policy

Policy & Governance does not lobby for commercial interests. Its mandate is to support clarity, foresight, and responsible governance in areas where technology has outpaced existing legal and policy frameworks.

Policy & Governance prioritizes:

  • Individual rights and dignity
  • Family continuity and protection
  • Fiduciary responsibility
  • Institutional resilience
  • Societal trust in digital systems

Core Research Areas

DEPI Policy & Governance conducts research across multiple, interrelated domains, including:

1. Digital Remains & Post-Life Data

  • Treatment of digital identities after death
  • Ownership vs custodianship of post-life data
  • Long-term data persistence and deletion ethics

2. Cross-Border Digital Estate Governance

  • Jurisdictional conflicts
  • Data localization vs portability
  • International inheritance inconsistencies

3. AI, Digital Identity & Continuity

  • AI-generated representations after death
  • Ethical boundaries of digital replicas
  • Consent, agency, and memory integrity

4. Platform Power & Access Control

  • Platform-controlled inheritance mechanisms
  • Lock-in and dependency risks
  • Transparency and accountability expectations

5. Security, Encryption & Recovery Policy

  • Lawful access vs absolute encryption
  • Recovery mechanisms and safeguards
  • Balance between privacy and continuity

6. Societal & Cultural Implications

  • Digital mourning and remembrance.
  • Intergenerational digital memory
  • Psychological and emotional continuity.

Policy Workstreams

How Policy & Governance Translates Research into Impact

Policy & Governance organizes its work through structured policy workstreams, including:

  • Policy Briefs
    Short, accessible analyses for decision-makers.
  • White Papers
    In-depth research publications addressing complex issues.
  • Position Statements
    DEPI’s formal perspectives on emerging policy questions.
  • Framework Proposals
    Model approaches for institutions and regulators.
  • Roundtables & Symposia
    Convenings for dialogue among experts and stakeholders.

Outputs are published openly whenever possible to support public understanding and informed debate.

Collaboration Model

Working with Policy & Governance

Policy & Governance collaborates with a wide range of institutions, including:

  • Academic and research institutions
  • Legal and fiduciary organizations
  • Standards bodies and think tanks
  • Civil society organizations
  • Technology and infrastructure providers
  • Policymakers and public institutions

All collaborations are governed by principles of:

  • Independence
  • Transparency
  • Conflict-of-interest disclosure
  • Public-interest alignment

Collaboration does not imply endorsement of commercial products or services.

Publications

Policy & Governance Publications

Policy & Governance publishes research outputs under the DEPI umbrella, including:

  • Research papers
  • Policy briefs
  • White papers
  • Consultation responses
  • Symposium reports

Each publication includes:

  • Executive summary
  • Methodology and scope
  • Authorship and review disclosures
  • Publication date and versioning

Publications are archived to support long-term reference and citation.