You're right, there's no way to be completely certain. It's like the adage: "Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead." When someone else has access to your data, there always exists the possibility that it can be used in some way you don't like.
What I wanted to convey is that user data was not used (at that time) in an untoward fashion by Dropbox. Everyone that I worked with took privacy and security very seriously, and we knew that user trust is tough to earn and easy to lose. Handing data to the government automatically, without a warrant or confirmation of authority, would not have been something that anyone was interested in doing. But the government does have ways of making you do things that you don't want to do (see: Yahoo).
The biggest problem that I have with all of the Snowden revelation stuff is this: people seem quick to blame the companies who are complicit rather than the government who is the root of the problem. The government's efforts against security and privacy are the biggest threat the technology industry has ever faced, and if left unaddressed I believe it will inevitably lead to the US losing it's leadership position.
One last point, regarding Dropbox's CFO. Sujay had been at Dropbox for over three years (since 2010) and was involved in the CFO search for a long time. That they picked him for the role says a few things, but I don't see it as Condoleezza stacking the deck.
Not too sure about the quote based on it's other implications - and I don't think it's exactly the appropriate analogy here...
As an aside the NSA keeps secrets between tens of thousands of employees (although I hear it's Orwellian and depressing to work there). You can keep secrets between small and even large groups of people. You just have to have the right processes and leverages.
'Punishing' companies that collaborate with the government has a few parallel goals:
1.) Wanting to use something that has not yet been purposefully subverted.
2.) Give the companies a real argument for resisting programs.
3.) Speak out against the practices (since it isn't on a ballot anywhere).
Yes, ultimately it isn't the companies' faults (however the complicit few with blinders on for profit motive should be shunned for not putting up a fight).
What I wanted to convey is that user data was not used (at that time) in an untoward fashion by Dropbox. Everyone that I worked with took privacy and security very seriously, and we knew that user trust is tough to earn and easy to lose. Handing data to the government automatically, without a warrant or confirmation of authority, would not have been something that anyone was interested in doing. But the government does have ways of making you do things that you don't want to do (see: Yahoo).
The biggest problem that I have with all of the Snowden revelation stuff is this: people seem quick to blame the companies who are complicit rather than the government who is the root of the problem. The government's efforts against security and privacy are the biggest threat the technology industry has ever faced, and if left unaddressed I believe it will inevitably lead to the US losing it's leadership position.
One last point, regarding Dropbox's CFO. Sujay had been at Dropbox for over three years (since 2010) and was involved in the CFO search for a long time. That they picked him for the role says a few things, but I don't see it as Condoleezza stacking the deck.