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Megaupload data safe for "at least two weeks"

By | January 31, 2012, 3:11am PST

Summary: Megaupload users have been given reprieve, as the fate of their uploaded files on the file-sharing site becomes slightly clearer.

Reprieve for tens of millions, as Megaupload struggles to deal with frozen bank accounts, and a hosting company’s bill that as a result has gone unpaid.

Managers at both firms have agreed to preserve the vast quantities of data uploaded by Megaupload users for a minimum of two weeks, said Megaupload’s U.S. attorney, Ira Rothken on Twitter.

It looked as though data could start being deleted as soon as Thursday. But this deal now gives the U.S. authorities and Megaupload more time to iron out an agreement over how to handle the issue of end users’ data.

Many had complained that despite Megaupload being used by some for piracy and illegally downloading copyrighted material, many files uploaded belong to the copyright owners, such as family photo collections and personal documents.

But Carpathia Hosting, one of Megaupload’s hosting companies, said in a statement that it: “does not have, and has never had, access to the content on MegaUpload servers and has no mechanism for returning any content residing on such servers to MegaUpload’s customers.”

With an estimated 50 million people once using Megaupload’s service, the file-sharing company in the top 100 most visited websites on the Web, according to Internet traffic analytics firm Alexa.

Image source: Twitter/ZDNet.

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Bank, Hosting Company, Bank Account, Financial Services, Finance, Zack Whittaker

Zack Whittaker, a criminologist who studied at the University of Kent, Canterbury, is a journalist, writer and broadcaster.

Disclosure

Zack Whittaker

I worked briefly with Microsoft UK in 2006 but no longer have any connection with the company. Regardless, I remain impartial and unbiased in my views.

I don't hold any stock or shares, investments or industrial secrets in any company, but have signed confidentiality agreements with a number of UK and U.S. organisations, whose names I am not at liberty to disclose.

I was involved with Kent Union, the University of Kent's student union, undertaking voluntary, non-salaried, elected positions between early 2009 and mid-2010.

No other company, body, government department, non-governmental organisation or third sector organisation employs me or pays me a salary in any capacity whatsoever.

As a freelance journalist, whenever expenses are given and taken by a company that is not CBS Interactive, these will be disclosed in each relevant post to ensure transparency.

I currently work with a UK law enforcement unit, but this is an entirely separate position which bears no connection to other work.

(Updated: 23rd October 2011)

Biography

Zack Whittaker

Zack Whittaker, criminologist who studied at the University of Kent, UK, is a journalist, writer and broadcaster.

After studying criminology at university, though still in his early-20's, he has already had a series unconventional work and voluntary positions. He has worked with researchers studying neurological illnesses like Tourette's syndrome (which he suffers from), has given lectures on the nature of disabilities in the public community, and occasionally ends up speaking on television and radio discussing the events of the day.

He first had academic work published at the age of 22, then still an undergraduate, and has been cited by a wide range of publications: from CNN, the Huffington Post, AllThingsDigital, The Atlantic Wire and CBS News.

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RE: Megaupload data safe for
aflemo 23rd Feb
I agree with wendellgee's comment. Network Admins have always known not to rely on the cloud only for data storage. russiske damer
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the cloud is dead
sparkle farkle 31st Jan
RIP. if one of the top sites on the net can have all it's data destroyed......... Not saying anything about the illegal file sharing, but........
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RE: Megaupload data safe for
wendellgee@... 31st Jan
@sparkle farkle

This isn't anything new. Network Admins have always known not to rely on the cloud only for data storage. Always have a local or 2nd offsite copy. I think its merely an awakening for normal users.

Maybe you could say the hyped-up expectations of the cloud are finally dead. Good riddance to them.
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RE: Megaupload data safe for
lehnerus2000 31st Jan
I'm hoping for a 50 million plaintiff, class action law suit against the US Government.
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RE: Megaupload data safe for
aflemo 23rd Feb
I agree with wendellgee's comment. Network Admins have always known not to rely on the cloud only for data storage. russiske damer

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