What you should know about Kim Dotcom's new website Mega

Indicted Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom launched a new file-sharing website on Sunday called Mega, which has generated such a huge craze that it has already crossed 1 million users in 24 hours, according to this TheNextWeb report. Kim Dotcom unveiled the “Mega” site at a lavish gala and press conference complete with a fake SWAT team, who re-enacted the raid on his New Zealand mansion. Dotcom is accused by US authorities for facilitating illegal downloads and online piracy. The launch of Mega was on the same date that Megaupload, his original file-sharing site was shut-down. So what is Megaupload offering to users? Well for starters users are getting a lot of space to share and store files on the site. Mega is offering 50 gigabytes of free storage, which is much, much more that what Dropbox or Google Drive offers to free users. The site url is Mega.co.nz. [caption id=“attachment_595649” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Screengrab of the Mega website.[/caption] The site has a drag and share option for uploading files. When you open it, you can click on the large Mega icon in the centre of the website to try it. It will open a pop-up window for you to upload files. You will have to accept their terms of service before uploading. And how it Dotcom planning to avoid the legal drama that has got him into so much trouble with US authorities? Well Mega has an encryption and decryption feature for data transfers which Dotcom says will protect him from the legal drama that has entangled Megaupload. The encryption/decryption keys for uploaded files will be with users and these keys will also protect users from snooping by Internet service companies and governments. Mega won’t know what’s in the files and therefore can call itself a privacy company. However Mega’s terms and conditions implicitly state that if users upload copyright material such as backup copies of their music files, then it should be for personal use. If users share copyright material with others then they will be responsible for any lawsuits/damages or fines that Mega has to pay. According to ZDNet, users can store only one copy of a file. Duplicate copies of a data file can and will be deleted by the Mega system servers, though its not clear how the system differentiates between an original file and a copy. Mega’s Terms of Service also states that the company will_respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable law and are properly provided to them._ Clearly with Mega, Kim Dotcom is trying hard to project the site as one where pirated content will not be tolerated, but is also trying to lure users with the promise of 50 GB of safe and secure data.