The following post our Question reader series is a real user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not modify or change questions from readers in any way. This question is as a result of a question asked earlier this week :? If an online backup service provider is assigned, would they have to hand over your data
Q: As a data storage provider, if forced to return customer data and it is encrypted, and me as a data storage provider that does not have means to get my client encryption code; I would just be essentially turning jibberish. How does this play in the whole scenario
A: Last week I noted that online backup providers must cooperate with search warrants, which means that they must submit the data, unencrypted to law enforcement if a summons. I also noted that Carbonite requires that data is not encrypted, which makes the reader wonder if the online backup service providers are required to track the encrypted data.
I'm glad you asked your question because I referred to the Terms of Service for a deeper reading. It turns out that Carbonite keeps you only use "the Carbonite Products or Services to decrypt data encrypted by others" as well as you prohibiting "other person may use the Carbonite Products or Services to access or decrypt data stored on servers provided by Carbonite ... "specifically, it seems to refer to unauthorized use of its own Carbonite encryption methods (he uses to shoot safely from your computer files).
While entanglement is avoided, and I'm sorry for this misreading of me (now it seems obvious). Yet it is important to note that these services are not regularly scan your files for inappropriate content. This would actually make them responsible for everything on their servers, a terrible and unmanageable burden. Carbonite says it can decrypt your files if "it reasonably believes it must do so in order to comply with a law, subpoena, warrant, order or regulation ... 'It can also because so for troubleshooting purposes.