Multi-stakeholder perspectives on governing innovation in the digital afterlife

Innovations regarding the digital afterlife, underpinned by rapid advances in generative AI and synthetic media, potentiate the creation of interactive, posthumous personas – digital re-creations – based on the digital remains of the dead. Current regulations do not extend to these, resulting in a governance void. We present findings from 69 stakeholder interviews that explored whether such re-creations should be governed and, if so, how. Our respondents exhibited a widespread view that governance was necessary and proposed several governance options, although there was little consensus as to which of these should be taken forward. Stakeholders acknowledged the various motivations and purposes of digital re-creations, which governance should be sensitive to. Our findings suggest governance principles that include proportionality (in relation to purpose and use), dignity (of the deceased) and protection from harm for those interacting with digital re-creations, particularly for the vulnerable, e.g. minors and those who may be grieving. Given the nascent stage of these innovations, initiatives aimed at developing a common understanding of terms (such as the digital afterlife), education and awareness programmes, and convening broadly configured, policy-oriented governance working groups are important first steps towards responsible development.