If a mobile phone is seized by law enforcement, how does manually erasing all data from Google Safe Folder (or Secure Folder) before or after the seizure affect data recovery? Are there any risks or implications I should be aware of?
2 Answers
If you erase data after the police have seized your phone, that could be considered tampering with evidence, depending on the laws in your area. So, it’s risky!
The ability for police to recover data really depends on the phone's OS version and its security features. Android phones can be vulnerable if they’re not well updated, but if you have good encryption and a strong password, you’re likely in a better position.
It's a complicated situation. There are legal nuances regarding unlocking phones with biometrics and the 5th amendment.