The tech industry has found its way into various aspects of the business of death, according to culture journalist Mihika Agarwal. From digital estate planning to crowdfunding funeral costs, there are a wide range of options gaining traction in this field. Agarwal discusses her reporting on the grief tech industry and the ethical concerns surrounding it in an interview with Marketplace’s Lily Jamali.
Agarwal highlights some of the apps in this industry, such as StoryFile and HereAfter AI, which allow users to record interviews and interact with an AI-powered element. On the other end of the spectrum, there are apps like You, Only Virtual that aim to recreate the presence of deceased loved ones. However, ethical concerns arise regarding data usage and privacy disclosures, as well as the lack of post-mortem consumer protection laws.
The issue of privacy invasion also arises when dealing with someone’s digital footprint after their death. Questions of consent, inheritance, and ownership are still being debated in the Silicon Valley and cybersecurity landscape.
Agarwal introduces the term “death technopreneurship,” which refers to the trend of entrepreneurs seeking opportunities in the death tech industry. This trend has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people become more concerned about their digital assets and how they will be used after their deaths.
As an Indian journalist, Agarwal notes the cultural differences in mourning rituals between India and the United States. She believes that the U.S. lacks federally mandated bereavement policies and has a tendency to distract and avoid grief rather than process it.
The article concludes with a mention of Justin Harrison, CEO of You, Only Virtual, who hopes that people will no longer have to feel grief in the future. However, the outsourcing of grief to technology raises questions about its true purpose and effectiveness in helping individuals process death.
