Changes in security terms
Dropbox updated its iPad and iPhone apps yesterday with a raft of new features, including to bulk upload images and video, and a new tab-based user interface for easier navigation. However, these weren't the only recent changes with the service, others have been made behind the scenes.
Most notably, there has been a change in the service's terms and conditions, including an alteration in its Terms of Service when it comes to "Compliance with Laws and Law Enforcement".
The file storage service now states that it will decrypt users' files and hand them over to the police, if requested - in the US, at least:
"As set forth in our privacy policy, and in compliance with United States law, Dropbox cooperates with United States law enforcement when it receives valid legal process, which may require Dropbox to provide the contents of your private Dropbox," it states on the Security Overview section of its terms. "In these cases, Dropbox will remove Dropbox’s encryption from the files before providing them to law enforcement."
It's actually standard practice with most online storage firms, and Dropbox's updated policy merely complies with its competitors. And while it may have some illegal file-sharing types up in arms, it's more likely been put in place to help police officers in criminal rather that copyright infringement cases.
As a side note, Pocket-lint isn't sure whether other countries' law enforcement could also demand the provision of files, but we'd recommend that you don't store any hooky content just in case.
Tags: Dropbox Online Security File sharing Cloud
Dropbox will hand your files to police if asked originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:12:27 +0100
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