James Delahunty
31 Oct 2012 1:25
Megaupload user asks court to return property, query government employees.
Kyle Goodwin was a Megaupload customer. Less than a year ago, when Megaupload was subject to a raid, Kyle lost access to his own files, which still have not been released by U.S. law enforcement agencies as the case against Megaupload proceeds.
The court overseeing the Megaupload case is contemplating holding a hearing to get to the bottom of what really happened when the government shut down Megaupload, seized its assets, and deprived millions of customers of their property. Goodwin filed a brief outlining what that hearing should cover, and how, so that the court can get what it needs to help ensure Megaupload's customers finally get their stuff back.
The EFF hopes the court will "hear from government employees, including members of the FBI, who were involved in the January searches and seizures that left Mr. Goodwin without his data, and from an independent expert who can discuss what the government could have done to avoid this scenario and what it can do now to make up for the damage it caused."
The EFF argues that government agents should be mindful of and segregate third-party data to protect privacy concerns, and also apply the same rule to property concerns.