[nicolas_17]

If you're okay with your stolen device being reused as long as they can't access your data, you can do that, click the "Erase" button on the Find My app.

[thefz]

And for the cases treated in the article, where there's no person to erase such data in the first place? Rare earth paperweights?

[t-writescode]

Process should be improved at those companies and/or the recycling firms should refuse Apple products that are still activation locked. It will slow down process; but, it is an appropriate route.

As for dead people, a death certificate + 40 days (or a longer waiting period) should be sufficient, imo.

[nicolas_17]

For dead people there's this whole system: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212360 + https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208510