MegaUpload Data Safe for Two More Weeks

MegaUpload users can breathe easy, for a while, their data is safe, though still inaccessible, for at least two more weeks. MegaUpload's attorney announced that the two companies that currently host MegaUpload data have agreed to store it for another two weeks giving the site time to fight the government and maybe be able to get data back to users.

"Carpathia and Cogent agreed to preserve consumer data for additional time of at least two weeks so #Megaupload can work with US on proposal," Ira Rothken, MegaUpload lawyer, tweeted.

The lawyer was concerned that the loss of data would serve against MegaUpload as it won't be able to defend itself in trial, as a great deal of evidence would be lost. Of course, the fact that millions of people lost access to their files and may lose them forever is also a concern.

Even with this reprieve, there is no guarantee that the data will be safe. The US government may have made copies of some data, to serve as evidence, but not all, so if the hosting companies start deleting it, it is gone forever.

It does seem unfair, to say the least, to put MegaUpload in a position where it may not be able to properly defend itself, just because the government blocked all funds belonging to the company.

In any case, even if the data is still safe, somewhat, it remains inaccessible. No one outside of MegaUpload is able to read it and MegaUpload employees are a bit busy at the moment, having been arrested and awaiting extradition.

"In reference to the letter filed by the U.S. Department of Justice with the Eastern District of Virginia on Jan. 27, 2012, Carpathia Hosting 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," Carpathia Hosting said in a statement.