System, method, and policy engine for granting temporary access to electronic content

A system, method, and Policy Engine for granting a first user temporary access to a second user's electronic content. The Policy Engine receives a request originating from the first user to access the second user's content, and retrieves from a relationship database, relationship information regarding a relationship between the two users. If an access rule matching the relationship information is stored in the Policy Engine, the Policy Engine applies the access rule to control access by the first user for a period of time specified in the rule. If an access rule is not stored, the Policy Engine obtains the access rule from the second user. The Policy Engine allows access when the matching rule grants access and the matching rule has not expired, and denies access when there is no matching rule, when the matching rule does not allow access, or when the matching rule has expired.