What family tree settings changed in March 2022?

In March 2022, we announced changes to our family tree settings and privacy policy to support the launch of two new developments.

1. Tree Search 

Tree Search is a feature that enables you to search for your deceased ancestors’ information in other members’ family trees. 

To accommodate Tree Search, the ‘share deceased ancestors’ permission in your tree settings was expanded to include: 

• Searching for ancestors in other members’ trees 
• Viewing information about deceased ancestors included in other members’ trees 
• Viewing other members’ trees (deceased ancestors only). 

From 1 May 2022, if the ‘share deceased ancestors’ box in your tree settings was ticked, you were included in this service – meaning your ancestors’ information is searchable (after we launch this service) and visible to other Findmypast members. No information on living people in your family tree will ever be shared, and no other member will be able to edit anything in your tree. 

If you don't want to share your deceased ancestors’ information, you can simply untick this permission in your family tree settings. 

2. Photo sharing

The second feature planned for future development is the sharing of photos attached to deceased ancestors in other members’ trees. We've added a separate privacy setting specifically for media and photos alongside the ‘share deceased ancestors’ tick box in your family tree settings. This setting will be 'switched on’ by default. No photographs attached to living people in your family tree will ever be shared. 

If you do not want photos of your deceased ancestors to be seen by other members, you can switch it off and none of your photographs will be shared. 

For more information on these features and how they work, you can browse our other frequently asked questions on your family tree data and photo privacy. You can also read our privacy policy, which has been updated to reflect these changes.