Sharing data within an instant messaging session is described. A user
participating in an instant messaging session may request a data access
key. The key, which provides access to data associated with the user, may
then be transmitted via the instant messaging session to one or more
other participants in the instant messaging session. The other instant
messaging session participants can then use the key to access, via the
instant messaging session, the data associated with the user. Users may
be granted various levels of access to another user's data.