Can a deceased person's fingerprints be used to access their assets or digital accounts? This question has been raised in numerous movies and books.
The reality is far more complex. Using a deceased person's fingerprints to access their assets is challenging due to several factors. After death, the body loses its electrical charge, rendering many electronic devices inoperable. Additionally, the quality of fingerprints can deteriorate over time, especially due to decomposition.
Fingerprint identification is a combination of biology and technology. Even if you scan a deceased person's fingerprint, it might not be enough to unlock a device. Devices often verify biological signals, which are lost after death.
For instance, if you try to unlock a mobile phone using a deceased person's fingerprint, it won't work. The phone also verifies the body's electrical charge, which is absent after death.
Legally, it's also complicated. Using a deceased person's fingerprint to access their assets can be legally challenging and prone to misuse, such as identity theft.
While fingerprints remain a valuable tool for identification, especially in criminal investigations, using them to access a deceased person's assets is not feasible. It's technologically challenging and legally complex.