Khadiza Laskor (University of Bristol), Richard Owen (University of Bristol), & Andrew Charlesworth (University of Bristol) have posted Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives on Governing Innovation in the Digital Afterlife on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
Innovations regarding the digital afterlife, underpinned by rapid advances in generative AI, 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, but little consensus on what specific forms it should take. Stakeholders acknowledged the various motivations and purposes of digital re-creations, which governance should be sensitive to. Principles include proportionality, dignity (of the deceased), protection from harm for those interacting with digital re-creations, and precaution considering the potential vulnerability of interactants who may be grieving. Given the nascent stage of these innovations, standardisation initiatives, education and awareness programmes, and convening broadly configured, policy-oriented governance working groups are important first steps towards responsible development.
Recommended.