Digital Forensic Trails: Mobile Devices, Messages, and Apps

While “data is forever,” as the adage goes, legal and practical considerations may exist regarding how and what types of data an entity will manage and maintain (e.g., data retention policies, storage costs, and security issues). See Kaveh Waddell, Your Data Is Forever, The Atlantic, June 6, 2016. Most lawyers have a basic understanding that the preservation and extraction of data are critical issues in investigations on behalf of clients and especially in disputes and litigation. What about information communicated via mobile devices, text messages or messaging apps?