The Feds see Megaupload as a facilitator of illegal downloads of books, movies, and music.
However, millions of people around the world used it for ordinary file sharing: collaborating on research data for a group project, backing up their hard drives, and keeping personal files and photos in an easily accessed place.
Now, however, all of those files are inaccessible for the foreseeable future—along with the rest of Megaupload. Outraged, innocent users are taking their demands to Twitter.
“#SOPA has claimed #megaupload…I had files up there…gone forever…and they were personal recordings! No copyright infringement!” tweeted @AnimainSparkstr.
“Tried to download a perfectly legal and manual today but it was hosted using Megaupload, good work FBI. Fanfuckingtastic,” added @KenneyWings.
“We need to get #Megaupload trending. I’m vehemently against copyright infringement: the files I lost were created & owned by me for my job,” commented @PolarKoala.
According to Gizmodo, Megaupload’s legal uses were more extensive than people might think. It accounted for a quarter of all corporate traffic—more than Dropbox.
With Megaupload gone, people will have to rethink the risks of keeping a backup of their personal or professional files online. By confiscating their files with no warning, the Feds have shown users that they see them as guilty until proven innocent.
“With Megaupload closed, should you backup your online backups?” tweeted @joaquin_win.
Photo by Max Klingensmith
