// Home / News

Megaupload user data set to be deleted

By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 30 Jan 2012 at 08:50

Prosecutors in the US plan to start deleting data from the servers of file-sharing site Megaupload this week.

The move has led to claims that wiping files could make it impossible for the accused to defend themselves and deprive millions of users access to their personal files.

The hosting site was shut down earlier this month when the FBI conducted raids around the world, claiming Megaupload's operators had pocketed $175 million in illegal earnings from copyright infringement.

According to reports from the Associated Press news agency, the federal investigators that raided companies used for storage by Megaupload plan to start wiping data, which the under-fire company says includes personal files such as photos for millions of its users.

According to Megaupload's lawyer, Ira Rothken, the company was working with prosecutors to try to keep the data from being erased, with at least 50 million Megaupload users at risk of their files being erased.

According to Rothken, the FBI didn't remove servers during raids, instead only copying data. Rothken said that the data was crucial to the site's legal defence.

"We're cautiously optimistic at this point that because the US, as well as Megaupload, should have a common desire to protect consumers, that this type of agreement will get done," he said.

Subscribe to PC Pro magazine. We'll give you 3 issues for £1 plus a free gift - click here

From around the web

User comments

I guess the FBI are confident they have a case then to start deleting the data before the end of the trial.

If they are found innocent the company may still end up closing because of this (win win for the us either way).

I feel sorry for those who used the site for backups or cloud storage, this is why it's always good to have a local copy.

By tech3475 on 30 Jan 2012

Can?... Worms?

As there are a great many fully paid up members of Mega Upload who use it for perfectly legal uses (I used it for a long time for distributing 3D Tree models (100 - 500MB, all my own work)) are the FBI going to be re-funding every one who still has an active subscription? I have a feeling that the first deletion of a rich persons holiday photos etc is going to bring down a ton of trouble for the FBI with regards to being sued for loss of personal data etc and non-reimbursment, knowing what the Americans are like regarding lawyers and litigation :-)

By mrmiley on 30 Jan 2012

Whilst I'm at it...

Anyone have any idea when the FBI (for FBI read American Government) are going to start going through the worlds banks safe deposit boxes... I'll bet the illegal content of those far outstrips mega uploads content? Oh that's right, the music and film industry aren't lobbying them about that are they? :D

By mrmiley on 30 Jan 2012

Obscene mis-use of power

I use a torrent site called "gameupdates.org" (check it out) it hosts patches for PC games, some of them very old as well as demos, mods and tons of other useful stuff.
You say "torrent" to someone and they go "oh, pirated games?" and have to spend ten minutes explaining away all the FUD spread by the press on behalf of the music and film industry.
MegaUpload is just the same. There is tons of stuff on there, some of it pirated, but that is neither cause for concern or justification for closing the site.
These industries generate far less revenue than they try to claim they've lost due to piracy and I've yet to hear of a single rock-group beggared by music downloads.
All they want is power. Power to totally control all marketing mediums, so nobody is contradicting their marketing machine. We aren't customers to these people, we're marks waiting to be taken.
When a rich minority of US business has succeeded in forcing internet users to use encrypted peer-2-peer for everything from file uploads to email, I hope they will be happy.

By cheysuli on 30 Jan 2012

Happy using encrypted peer-2-peer?

No, they'll be demanding encryption is stopped & all internet communication is monitored & checked before being allowed to pass through...

By greemble on 30 Jan 2012

Ubiquitous tenuous car analogy

Will the FBI be deleting all the blueprints for pattern parts? I'm sure the American automobile industry could claim to be losing millions too.
Why haven't we seen Chinese manufacturers being arrested on foreign soil?

By dubiou on 30 Jan 2012

Please explain...

... why every other news site carrying this story (including the Associated Press whom you have quoted, and I quote below) is saying that it is the hosting company that may wipe the data on the basis they are no longer being paid and the FBI has completed its search, NOT that the FBI or US government will wipe it.

"A letter filed in the case Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said storage companies Carpathia Hosting Inc. and Cogent Communications Group Inc. may begin deleting data Thursday."

By halsteadk on 30 Jan 2012

Unpaid hosts deleting files

because the US govt has frozen (is planning to steal) Megaupload's assests. The FBI could prevent this but aren't - why don't they want this evidence to exist?

By dubiou on 31 Jan 2012

hope

i hope they AT LEAST give us 24 hours access...i'm mad cause i had alot of stuff of on MU that i didn't keep a 2nd backup off (-)smacks head into wall(-)

p.s. if anyone is looking for a similar free host:
http://www.peeje.com/upload

imo it's better than megaupload since peeje gives u DIRECT-download links

By BobHart111 on 1 Feb 2012