Cloud services a no go if it's a US company

[teejay]

Looks like cloud services by any US based company are a no go as there is a conflict between the US Patriot Act and EU data protection laws - EU cloud data can be secretly accessed by US authorities ? The Register

[Blue_Cookeh]

As far as I know Google have server in Ireland or somewhere in the EU for UK data.

[box_l]

But if you follow the article you will see that this still means your data can be requested as the company, (Google, Microsoft etc.), are US based. It is not wholly down to where the data is housed.

 

So, no live@edu or gmail or office live or google docs for any sensitive data, possibly any data at all.

 

BoX

Edited July 4, 2011 by box_l

[pete]

As far as I know Google have server in Ireland or somewhere in the EU for UK data.

 

Doesn't matter. The provisions of the Patriot Act are such that a US company can be forced to disclose information no matter where the data is hosted. Regardless of whether that breaches EU (or whereever else) law.

 

EU Law = must tell people when you disclose.

US Law (Patriot Act) = you can't tell people when you disclose to us.

 

Google is a US company, thus the Patriot Act wins, regardless of where the stuff is physically / geographically.

 

The only way round it would be to split off Google UK / EU as another company in the EU, separate from Google, and build a separate GooglePlex (or whatever) and keep all EU data on that hardware with that company.

[teejay]

So, anyone know of an EU company that offers something similar to live@edu/Google Apps?

[SYNACK]

I was reading a similar article pointing out that it was illegal for govt organisations to use US cloud services for the same kind of reason. I don't know if it is illegal here but sadly even if it was I don't think that the cloud "Ra, ra, ra" cheerleading perpetrated by clueless education tech writers and teacher training organisations would continue.

 

There are several 'cloud' services offered in NZ for specific services but I have yet to hear of one which is actually properly cloud based with multiple redundant data storage and processing across multiple data centers.

[plexer]

What about safe harbour agreements though?

 

Export.gov - Home

 

Ben

[AngryTechnician]

What about safe harbour agreements though?

Patriot Act trumps pretty much everything. Including congressional oversight, if recent press coverage is to be believed.

 

Or rather, the execution of powers granted under the Patriot Act trumps everything. There is debate ongoing over whether some of the activity going on under the guise of the Patriot Act is actually legal or not.