MegaRetrieval Comes to Rescue Megaupload Users in Virtual Limbo
Plato's oft quoted, "Necessity is the mother of invention," in the case of Megaupload users, should be changed to, "Desperation is the mother of invention!" Mega's users, collaterally damaged by the file-sharing company's Fed blackout panicked and gave SHOUTOUTS about filing lawsuits against the government who warned their data could be deleted this week. Their desperate pleas were heard and voila! A star is being birthed to rescue and retrieve, even as this is being written!
Thanks to Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Megaupload's host, Carpathia, hope waxes to a full moon for Megaupload users with non-pirated files and non-copyright infringing data. The companies are exploring the possibilities of retrieving the data which has been in virtual limbo since the raid, terrifying customers since the prosecutors' announcement that Megaupload's seized assets won't be paying off the two hosts (Carpathia and Cogent Communications Group) who had contracted with the mammoth file-sharing company. Unless something is DONE, user data could be dumped from their servers due to non-payment, the Fed announcement inferred with Pilot-like "washing its hands" of responsibility in the matter.
Carpathia denied the Fed rumors claiming it never had spoken to prosecutors about deleting data beginning February 2nd, and it suggested that customers contact Megaupload and not them because it would be unable to help. However, in the interim, Carpathia appears to have been feverishly working on a solution and opportunity which will endear it to Mega's non-pirating clients. First, wisely, they along with other host Cogent Communications Group stated they will not delete data, contradicting the Fed announcement. Secondly, Carpathia and the EFF have launched MegaRetrieval a site which will help customers in the process of gaining access to their data.
EFF was clear about the government's indifferent impact on Mega's innocent users.
“Megaupload, of course, had many lawful customers … Yet those people were given no notice that they might lose access to their data and no clear path to getting their property back. Setting aside the legal case against Megaupload, the government should try to avoid this kind of collateral damage, not create it."
And the foundation stated why it decided to take a stand with the project, "We think it's important that these users have their voices heard as this process moves forward."
With project MegaRetrieval, it is hoped that customers will be able to access their data stored in Megaupload’s archives, even though the service is offline.The problem is that Carpathia needs special dispensation to be able to go into its former client's customer content. Complex privacy laws restrict Carpathia's access. Without a lifting of the privacy laws, or an exception given, or some tweaking of privacy access, then Carpathia is liable. On the other hand, privacy laws are crucial to customer protections, so both sides will have to tease out a means whereby customers allow access to their private data in the name of retrieval. It's an interesting legal problem with shards of Catch-22 here and there at the ready to slice those willing to pick up the cause.
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