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Megaupload users face data deletion US prosecutors warn | Megaupload users face data deletion US prosecutors warn |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US prosecutors have said that data belonging to Megaupload users and stored by third parties could be deleted as soon as Thursday. | US prosecutors have said that data belonging to Megaupload users and stored by third parties could be deleted as soon as Thursday. |
Users have been unable to access data since the file-sharing service was raided. | Users have been unable to access data since the file-sharing service was raided. |
The warning was made in a letter filed by the US Attorney's Office. | |
Megaupload's lawyer Ira Rothken told the Associated Press that at least 50 million users had data which could be deleted. | |
Mr Rothken said that freezing of Megaupload's funds meant it was unable to pay those who were storing its data. | Mr Rothken said that freezing of Megaupload's funds meant it was unable to pay those who were storing its data. |
'Cautiously optimistic' | |
In the letter US prosecutors said that the data which might be deleted was being held by the storage companies Carpathia Hosting and Cogent Communications Group. | |
"It is our understanding that the hosting companies may begin deleting the contents of the servers beginning as early as 2 February," it said. | |
The letter explains that in its investigations the US "copied selected data" but did not remove any servers from the premises of either company. | |
It goes on to note that the data "remains at the premises controlled by, and currently under the control of Carpathia and Cogent. | |
"Should the defendants wish to obtain independent access... that issue must be resolved directly with Cogent or Carpathia." | |
Neither of the two storage companies have responded to emails from the BBC. | |
However, Megaupload's lawyer, Mr Rothken told the Associated Press that he was "cautiously optimistic" that a deal could be done to save the data from being wiped. | |
He said that the information would be needed by the defence. | |
Legitimate data | Legitimate data |
Megaupload was shut down on 19 January. | Megaupload was shut down on 19 January. |
It had about 150 million registered users, making it one of the most popular file-sharing services in the world. | It had about 150 million registered users, making it one of the most popular file-sharing services in the world. |
US authorities are seeking to extradite founder Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, and three other defendants from New Zealand to the US. | US authorities are seeking to extradite founder Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, and three other defendants from New Zealand to the US. |
Prosecutors have accused it of costing copyright holders more than $500m (£320m) in lost revenue. | Prosecutors have accused it of costing copyright holders more than $500m (£320m) in lost revenue. |
But a number of users have said that they have been unable to access legitimately uploaded material as a result of the legal action. | But a number of users have said that they have been unable to access legitimately uploaded material as a result of the legal action. |
After the shutdown one user tweeted, "I'm vehemently against copyright infringement: the files I lost were created & owned by me for my job." | After the shutdown one user tweeted, "I'm vehemently against copyright infringement: the files I lost were created & owned by me for my job." |