Article: Beyond Digital Wills: A Global Review of Posthumous Data Governance, AI Risks, and Digital Dignity with Implications for Pakistan

This review looks into digital identities, individual data, and machine created profiles shaping existence beyond death. Combining worldwide findings on online afterlife control, privacy when deceased, along with dangers tied to smart systems-special attention goes to Pakistan’s laws, customs, and Muslim perspectives. Current work suggests digital remnants involve social network footprints, files kept remotely, plus automatic results still active following someone’s passing. Outside sources point out weak platform guidelines, confusing inheritance procedures, alongside growing software capable of mimicking speech or appearance, sparking fresh debates around respect, abuse, and permission. Still, Pakistan rarely appears in such conversations-even though societal and faith-based norms place a high value on reputation, confidentiality, and heritage once dead. This study fills the gap by examining strategies from the EU, USA, Malaysia, UAE, and India, followed by evaluating how they apply to Pakistan. Rather than just summarizing, it combines moral, regulatory, and societal perspectives to shape a locally relevant Digital Dignity Framework. Instead of copying global models, it links worldwide norms with Islamic values and community practices, suggesting ways toward fairer, more responsible management of digital afterlives.