Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Faces U.S. Extradition After 12 Years—Here’s What To Know
ForbesAUG 14 2024
New Zealand's Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith signed an extradition order for Kim Dotcom, the founder of the defunct file-sharing website Megaupload, on charges of online piracy, a ministerial spokesperson announced Thursday.New Zealand's Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith signed an extradition order for Kim Dotcom, the founder of the now-defunct file-sharing website Megaupload, on charges of online piracy, a ministerial spokesperson announced Thursday.
In a statement, Goldsmith said he "decided that Mr Dotcom should be surrendered to the U.S. to face trial" after considering all available information, adding that he gave Dotcom a short period of time to seek advice on his decision.In a statement, Goldsmith said he "decided that Mr Dotcom should be surrendered to the U.S. to face trial" after considering all available information, adding that he gave Dotcom "a short period of time" to seek advice on his decision.
The German-born entrepreneur has been fighting his extradition to the US since 2012, arguing that he is not liable for copyright infringements committed by users of Megaupload - a file-sharing service allowing to upload content and share the download link.The German-born entrepreneur has been fighting his extradition to the US since 2012, arguing that he isn't liable for copyright infringements committed by users of Megaupload — which allowed users to upload content and share the download link.
That New Zealand finally approved the US extradition request for Dotcom is a victory for justice and underlines the independence of the country's legal system. The flamboyant internet fraudster was the architect of a hugevast criminal enterprise, as also indicated by the earlier guilty pleas of two of his associates. With the New Zealand Ministry of Justice's decision, the largest copyright trial in US history is now set for a happy ending, and the case proves that there is no hiding from the long arm of US jurisdiction.
The witch hunt against DotocmDotcom proves that he is right in calling New Zealand a US colony. Similar to the Assange case, the US is trying to punish the internet mogul for standing up for freedom of expression and using his popularity to criticize the corrupt and hypocritical US empire openly. Now, the entrepreneur is facing extradition to a country he has never set foot in and where he cannotcan't expect a fair trial. The entire case is politically motivated, marking the latest example of the US justice system's bankruptcy.