MegaUpload, one of the largest file-sharing sites on the Internet, has been shut down by federal prosecutors in Virginia. The site’s founder Kim Dotcom and three others were arrested by the police in New Zealand at the request of US authorities. MegaVideo, the streaming site belonging to same company, and a total of 18 domains connected to the Mega company were seized and datacenters in three countries raided.
SOPA hasn’t even passed yet, and already we see the first major takedown of a filesharing site.
It should be noted that while obviously Megaupload hosted thousands if not millions of illegal files, it did have legitimate uses as well. Filesharing sites, like Megaupload, by their very nature can be used for both legal and illegal activities. Just as easily as one could upload and share the latest Twilight film, that same person could be uploading photos from their family vacation to send to their friends and families.
It would be naive to say that Megaupload’s primary purpose was a legal one, but it does set a dangerous and chilling precedent. Are all filesharing services up for grabs? What about services like Apple’s iDisk (which is soon to be retired)? While most people would use it to backup their photos it could just as easily be used to share illegal movie rips. What about Dropbox?
There-in lies the ultimate paradox of the internet and the underlying problems behind SOPA/PIPA; anything on the internet, and indeed the internet itself, can be used for good or it can be used for evil. Where do we draw the line? Who gets to make the distinction? And how do we fight back?
Of course, it probably didn’t help that Megaupload taunted the MPAA in the last few months.
