Apple has had a peculiar month, with instances of erased content reappearing on multiple devices. In a recent example, a guy learned that erasing messages from his iPhone was insufficient to keep his secrets private, resulting in major personal consequences.
The Incident
A now-divorced guy used his iPhone to organize meetings with escorts using iMessage, then deleted the incriminating conversations. However, his wife later discovered all of these texts on the family’s iMac, which had saved every text he had ever sent. This discovery prompted her to file for divorce.
Legal action
Following his divorce, the man is suing Apple for €5 million, seeking compensation for legal fees, money lost during the divorce, and mental anguish. He expressed his frustration, saying, “If you are told a message is deleted, you have the right to believe it is deleted.” He now has panic attacks and needs medicine, which he attributes to the stress of the divorce.
Potential Class Action Lawsuit
Rosenblatt, a London-based law firm representing the man, intends to file a class-action lawsuit. The complaint centers on the accusation that Apple misleads users about message deletion. The man’s lawyer claims that while consumers assume communications are destroyed, they can still be accessed on other associated devices, which Apple apparently fails to communicate effectively.
Technical Explanation
The issue could be related to how the man’s devices were configured. If iCloud is not correctly linked, removing messages just removes them from the device in question, not from all connected devices. According to Apple’s support documentation, if “Messages in iCloud” is enabled, removing a message on one device deletes it from all devices. It’s probable that the individual didn’t connect his iCloud account to disguise his activity, which backfired when the messages remained visible on the iMac.
Apple’s Position
Apple’s support papers explain how message deletion works across devices, but this information may not be immediately clear. Despite the man’s allegations, Apple does provide information about message deletion and iCloud synchronization.
Conclusion
Apple has yet to reply publicly to the case. This instance emphasizes the necessity of understanding how data synchronization and deletion function across several devices. It serves as a reminder to consumers to carefully review their device settings to protect data privacy.