1) How is the information stored in the camera?
* Picture data and info are stored on flash EPROM. Flash EPROM is an electrically eraseable non-volatile memory, meaning that it does not require power to the chip to retain the data stored in it.
2) How is the information cleared (erased) from the camera?
*╩Data is erased by user command, either from the control panel on the camera or from the host application.
3) Once "erased" is there a technical means to retrieve information? (Similar to Norton Utilities for hard drives)
* No - erasing the data means overwriting each byte and filling the memory with FFs. If the memory does not overwrite with FFs, a hard failure is declared and the camera displays an error condition and does not operate.
4) If the Camera is damaged and must be returned for repair, is there a component (e.g. EPROM) that can be removed to positively ensure that the storage media is not allowed out of government control.
*╩No. The EPROM is a surface mounted device, and is soldered directly to the circuit board.