A Cumbrian lawyer took on technology giants Apple to allow a widow to gain access to her husband’s online accounts.
Rob Winder, a senior associate at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, represented the woman who wanted to retrieve sentimental photos and videos from his accounts after his death.
Apple has strict privacy guidelines to prevent people accessing other accounts, and the woman’s request ended up in court.
After a 12-month dispute, Rob’s client was granted a court order ordering Apple to assist her to retrieve the password-protected files.
Rob said: “She couldn’t husband’s Apple ID account and, even though she was the executor of his will, Apple would not provide her with the password.
“Apple, quite rightly, treats its users’ privacy and security seriously so accessing a deceased person’s account can prove tricky.”
He recommended that people take steps to make sure their loved ones do not have to go through a similar process to his client.
He said: “In today’s increasingly digital world many of us own a variety of digital assets, more commonly social media profiles, photos and videos in the cloud and even cryptocurrencies.
“But a lot of people don’t understand that the process of inheriting and gaining access to these assets can be complex as it involves legal, technical and privacy concerns.
“To avoid situations like this, Apple and other platforms, such as Facebook, have in place legacy contact policies which allow users to nominate a person who will be able to access their accounts on death.
“Not many people are aware of this feature but it’s such a simple step to take and setting it up as soon as possible can help prevent any further upset and stress when someone dies.
“My advice is if you haven’t yet set up any legacy contacts or thought about how your accounts should be managed after your death, now’s the time to act. After all, your digital life is an important part of your legacy, and taking steps to protect it can save your family members a lot of hassle down the line.”
