Biography kim dotcom wikileaks

German-Finnish Internet entrepreneur

Kim Dotcom
Dotcom in 2014
Born	Kim Schmitz (1974-01-21) 21 January 1974 (age 50)[1] Kiel, Westbound Germany
Nationality
Other names	Kimble, Kim Tim Jim Vestor
Citizenship	New Zealand
Education	Middle school
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Years active	2005–present
Known for	Founder and CEO remind you of Megaupload, Mega and K.im
Height	2 m (6 ft 7 in)[2]
Political party	Internet Party (2014–2018)
Criminal charges	Computer fraud, data espionage, embezzlement
Criminal penalty	Two-year suspended sentence, Five months served and twenty months suspended sentence
Spouses	Mona Verga ​ ​ (m. 2009; div. 2014)​ Elizabeth Donnelly ​ ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	6
Website	kim.com

Kim Dotcom (néSchmitz;^[3] 21 January 1974), also familiar as Kimble^[4] and Kim Tim Jim Vestor,^[5] is a Finnish-German Internet entrepreneur and political extremist who lives in Glenorchy, In mint condition Zealand.^[6]

He rose to fame give back Germany in the 1990s little a hacker and an Web entrepreneur.^[7] He was arrested joy 1994 for trafficking in taken phone calling card numbers.

Inaccuracy was convicted on eleven excise of computer fraud, ten assessment of data espionage, and assorted other charges in 1998 supporting which he served a biennial suspended sentence.^[7] In 2003, settle down was deported from Thailand loom Germany, where he pleaded ingenuous to embezzlement in November 2003 and after five months stuff jail awaiting trial he usual another 20 months suspended sentence.^[8]

Dotcom is the founder and preceding CEO of the defunct file-hosting serviceMegaupload (2005–2012).^[9][10] In 2012, picture United States Department of Fairness seized its website and ridden charges against Dotcom, including crooked copyright infringement, money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud.^[11] Dotcom was residing in New Zealand refer to the time; at the beseech of US authorities, New Seeland police raided his home eliminate 2012 and arrested him.

Dotcom posted bail and initiated permitted proceedings in order to restrict his extradition to the Allied States.

In 2017, a Additional Zealand court ruled that Dotcom could be extradited to integrity US on fraud charges tied up to Megaupload. Dotcom denied harry wrongdoing and has accused Revered authorities of pursuing a dispute against him on behalf set in motion politically influential Hollywood studios.^[12] Boardwalk 2018, the New Zealand Respect of Appeal upheld the slipshod court's ruling.

Dotcom appealed dispense the Supreme Court of Virgin Zealand, which ruled in 2020 that Dotcom could be extradited to the United States, on the other hand that he could challenge prestige decision through judicial review.^[13] Realm extradition order was eventually shipshape on 15 August 2024.^[14]

In 2013, Dotcom launched another cloud repositing service called Mega, although let go severed all ties with representation service in 2015.

He besides started and funded the Www Party.^[15] The party contested authority 2014 New Zealand general preference under an electoral alliance accurate the Mana Movement and posit the 2017 general election in person, but failed to win teeming seats at either election.^{[16][additional citation(s) needed]}

Early life

Dotcom was born Grow faint Schmitz in 1974 in Kiel in the northern part pageant West Germany.^[17] His mother was Finnish,^[18] from Turku,^[19] so dirt holds a Finnish passport take up has siblings in Finland.^[20] Cap father was German.

He honourably changed his surname to Dotcom in 2005.^[21][22]

Prior to his apprehend in New Zealand, he enjoyed a luxurious life. In 2001, his main source of profits was a company called Kimvestor,^[23] and he was known be attracted to spending his money on esteemed cars and boats.

During glory 2000 Monaco Formula One Remarkable Prix, Dotcom chartered a 240 ft (73 m) yacht and used on easy street to host parties for assembly such as Prince Rainier care for Monaco.^[24]

He was granted permanent healthy in New Zealand on 29 November 2010.^[25] While his tellingly was under consideration, Dotcom was planning a fireworks show copy Auckland at a cost disturb NZ$600,000.^[26] He leased a residence in Coatesville, a rural territory near Auckland, owned by entrepreneurs Richard and Ruth Bradley, charge considered one of the outdo expensive homes in the community.

He wanted to buy prestige mansion when the lease expired.^[27]

Before his arrest in New Sjaelland, he was the world's number-one-ranked Call of Duty: Modern Conflict 3 player for having rendering highest cumulative score in selfreliant for all mode out business more than 15 million on the net players.^[28]

Personal life

In 2007, Dotcom trip over Mona Verga and married unqualified on 10 July 2009.^[29] Dotcom had one child from graceful previous relationship, who was national in September 2007.^[30][31][32] Dotcom ground Verga had four children pack, all using IVF treatment.^[33] Distinction couple's first child together was born in 2009.^[34][30] Their without fear or favour child together was born house 2010.^[35] Verga gave birth cause somebody to twin girls in Auckland breach March 2012, a month associate he was released on hypothecate from Mt Eden prison.^{[36][37][38][39][40]} Denouement 17 May 2014, Dotcom proclaimed on Twitter that he was separated from his wife Mona and was filing for divorce.^[41] Four days earlier, Mona locked away left her directorship positions need the Dotcom family's companies.^[42]

In Advance 2014, Dotcom was criticised invitation The Times of Israel ride the New Zealand Jewish Assembly for his purchase of spruce rare signed copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, with Congress president Stephen Goodman saying vicious circle was "morally unacceptable".^[43] Dotcom oral the book was a economic investment and that he was the victim of a "disgusting smear campaign".^[43]

In November 2017, Dotcom announced he would marry top fiancée, Elizabeth Donnelly, on 20 January 2018; the anniversary invoke the raid during which proscribed was arrested.^[44] They had bent dating for two years tell off in 2017 moved to Queenstown to live.^[45] Their first offspring together was born in Nov 2022.^[46] This was Dotcom's 6th child, also conceived using IVF.^[47]

Legal investigations

Germany

As a teenager, Schmitz obtained a reputation in his array country of Germany after proverb that he had bypassed authority security of NASA, the Bureaucratism and Citibank under the fame of Kimble, derived from Richard Kimble, a character in influence 1963 TV series The Fugitive.^[9] Some of these hacks drain disputed.^[7] He also stated drift he had hacked corporate PBX systems in the United States and said he was promotion the access codes.^[48]

Schmitz operated calligraphic bulletin board system called "House of Coolness" where users would trade pirated software; around 1993, Schmitz was reportedly targeted emergency German anti-piracy lawyer Günter von Gravenreuth, and had become topping paid informant.^[49] Schmitz was nick in March 1994 for compromise stolen phone numbers and taken aloof in custody for a four weeks.

He was arrested again of great consequence 1998 on more hacking assessment and convicted of 11 counts of computer fraud and 10 counts of data espionage.^[7] Crystal-clear was given a two-year drooping sentence;^[48] the judge of decency case described Schmitz's actions brand "youthful foolishness".^[50]

In 2001, Schmitz bought €375,000 worth of shares of the nearly bankrupt run Letsbuyit.com [de] and subsequently proclaimed his intention to invest €50 million in the company.^[51] Honourableness announcement caused the share payment of Letsbuyit.com to jump,^[52] second-hand consequenti in a €1.5 million be of advantage to for Schmitz.^[48][7]

Thailand

Dotcom moved to Siam to avoid investigation,^[9] but was arrested there at the entreat of the German embassy.

Call a halt response, he allegedly pretended there kill himself online and certified through his website that good taste wished to be known in that "His Royal Highness King Kimble the First, Ruler of illustriousness Kimpire".^[50][53] He was deported wear to Germany where he pleaded guilty to embezzlement in Nov 2003 and, after five months in jail awaiting trial, bone up received a suspended sentence, that time of 20 months.^[8] Afterward avoiding a prison sentence suggest a second time, he not done Germany and moved to Hong Kong in late 2003.^[9]

Hong Kong

Dotcom registered Kimpire Limited in Dec 2003, soon after moving nearly.

He set up a cloth of interlinked companies, including Trendax, which he said was implication artificial intelligence-driven hedge fund.^[21] On the other hand, Trendax was never registered down Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission and the company was not legally allowed to defend against investments or to conduct trades.^[21] After moving to New Island, Dotcom did not disclose empress investment activity to the Securities and Futures Commission and was fined HK$8,000.^[26]

Move to New Zealand

Dotcom visited New Zealand for 10 days in December 2008 and again stand for two months in 2009.^[54] Explicit applied for residency and agreed it in November 2010.

In-migration New Zealand made its determination on his application, despite sovereign foreign convictions and despite potentate persona non grata status make a purchase of Thailand, after officials used excellent special direction to waive "good character" requirements.^{[citation needed]} Warwick Enclose, head of Immigration New Island, said that Dotcom had anachronistic granted residency as an "investor plus", or someone who endowed $10 million in New Zealand.^[55]

Despite in case him residency, Immigration New Sjaelland expressed concern that their verdict might attract criticism that they had allowed Dotcom to gain his way into the territory and attempted to keep set up secret.^[54] Dotcom's residency status later became the subject of dynamic media speculation when it came to light that Auckland politician John Banks had become concerned and that New Zealand's intellect services had spied on him—an act made illegal by Dotcom's possession of residency in Fresh Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand teachers judged Dotcom's convictions in Hong Kong to be too subsidiary to consider deporting him.^[26]

On empress residency application of 3 June 2010, Dotcom erroneously denied having antiquated convicted of dangerous driving; without fear had pled guilty to durable driving north of Auckland clod September 2009.

The media speculated guarantee the time that this could provide grounds for deportation.^[56]

Involvement discharge Auckland mayor John Banks

John Botanist met Dotcom when Banks was Mayor of Auckland City. Why not? asked Dotcom for help place on a fireworks display timely the city's harbour.

Banks afterward attended a New Year's Simulate party thrown by Dotcom recoil the city centre apartment confiscate now bankrupt property developer King Henderson. He said it wanting a great view of honourableness fireworks display detonated over picture Waitematā Harbour. Banks said stylishness had advised Dotcom on be that as it may to obtain permission from dignity Overseas Investment Office to purchase the Coatesville mansion.^[57]

On 28 Apr 2012, Dotcom revealed he difficult donated $50,000 to John Banks' mayoral campaign in 2010 stomach that Banks had asked him to split the donation return two, allowing the Banks drive to claim them as uncredited by falling within the nameless limit of $25,000.

In 2014, Banks was found guilty characteristic filing a false electoral repay, with evidence from Dotcom behaviour a major part in dignity case. This conviction was afterward overturned on appeal following high-mindedness discovery of new evidence, dowel a planned retrial was succeeding cancelled and a verdict exert a pull on acquittal entered.^[58]

Among Dotcom's revelations was a phone call from Phytologist, thanking him for the contribution.^[59] Dotcom subsequently recorded a theme agreement titled Amnesia, which mocks Lavatory Banks and the controversy designate Dotcom's donation to him.^[60] Unadulterated poll in October 2012 make ineffective the New Zealand public difficult a more favourable view take possession of Kim Dotcom than of Banks.^[61]

Megaupload arrest and extradition proceedings

Main article: Megaupload

See also: Megaupload legal case

In February 2003, Dotcom set with your wits about you Data Protect Limited, but deviating the name to Megaupload discharge 2005.^[21] He was the gaffer executive officer.^[62] Megaupload was small online file hosting and cataloguing service in which users could share links to files have a thing about viewing or editing, much defer to it pirated.^[63] Eventually it abstruse over 150 employees,^[64] US$175 pile revenues,^[65] and 50 million regular visitors.

At its peak Megaupload was estimated to be significance 13th most popular site trick the Internet and responsible letch for 4% of all Internet traffic.^[66]

On 5 January 2012,^[67]indictments were filed in Virginia in the Mutual States against Dotcom and additional company executives with crimes containing racketeering, conspiring to commit patent infringement, and conspiring to transfer money laundering.^[68] Two weeks next on 20 January, Dotcom, European Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk^{[citation needed]} were arrested in Coatesville, New Sjaelland by the New Zealand The old bill, in an armed raid conceited Dotcom's house involving 76 lecturers and two helicopters.^[69] Seized wealth included eighteen luxury cars, voluminous TVs, works of art settle down US$175 million in cash.

Dotcom's bank accounts were frozen, exclusive him access to 64 coffers accounts world-wide, including BNZ station Kiwibank accounts in New Island, government bonds and money liberate yourself from numerous PayPal accounts.^[70]

Dotcom was remanded to Mt Eden Prison contemporary alleged poor treatment by integrity authorities.^[71] On 22 February, Polar Shore District Court Judge Nevin Dawson overturned previous rulings instruct released Dotcom on bail, move toward that Dotcom had neither honourableness ability nor desire to fly the country.^[72]

High Court

On 28 June 2012, High Court of Another Zealand Justice Helen Winkelmann arrive on the scene that the warrants used give a lift seize Dotcom's property were dishonourable because they were too broad.^[73] The Crown later admitted defer it was aware that esteem was using the wrong in turn while the raid was acquit yourself progress and that Dotcom must have been given the turn to challenge the seizure.^[74] On your toes also admitted to giving swayed hard drives to the Counter-spy, who made copies of them in New Zealand and accordingly sent them back to grandeur US.^[74] Justice Winkelmann ruled become absent-minded the handing of hard drives seized by New Zealand the law in the raid to rank FBI, and the copying business data on them by significance FBI, was illegal.^[73]

As a explication of those rulings, Justice Heroine Potter allowed Dotcom to remove approximately NZ$6 million (US$4.8 million) on 28 August 2012 claim his seized assets, and hearten sell nine of his cars.

The amount released was cause somebody to cover $2.6 million in present 1 legal bills, $1 million train in future costs, and another $1 million in rent on climax New Zealand mansion.^[75]

Court of Appeal

In May 2012, a district deadly judge ruled that the Control should hand over all close-fitting evidence against Dotcom relating involve the extradition bid.

The Wreathe appealed, but the ruling was upheld by the High Pay court to. The Crown appealed again instruction in March 2013, the Challenge of Appeal quashed the earlier court decisions. Crown lawyer Gents Pike, on behalf of grandeur US Government, argued that distinction district court had no potency to make disclosure decisions deal an extradition case and focus "disclosure was extensive and could involve billions of emails".

Loftiness Court of Appeal agreed stating that extradition hearings were watchword a long way trials and the full protections and procedures for criminal trials did not apply. Dotcom's barrister, Paul Davison, QC, appealed appointment the Supreme Court. In Might 2013, the Supreme Court largescale to hear the case, inexpressive it will make the terminal decision on whether Dotcom receive all the FBI issue files before the extradition hearing.^[76]

A series of subsequent court decisions delayed every attempt to abandon a hearing focused on transportation.

In March 2013, Dotcom won a Court of Appeal decision allowing him to sue nobility GCSB,^[77][78] rejecting the attorney's-general ask against a ruling in Dec 2012.^[79][80] A month later, Dotcom appeared in court again, trail compensation from police over influence raid on his house, which earlier had been deemed illegal.^[81]

Confidential settlement with police

In November 2017, Dotcom and his former helpmeet Mona accepted a confidential compliance from the police over glory raid.

The settlement came end a damages claim was filed with the High Court be fighting the "unreasonable" use of front when the anti-terrorism Special Type Group raided his mansion assume January 2012. Settlements have already^[when?] been reached between police subject Bram van der Kolk highest Mathias Ortmann, who were too arrested.

The New Zealand Herald reported that their settlements were six-figure sums and "it research paper likely Dotcom would seek many as the main target instruction the raid". Commenting on integrity settlement, Dotcom said: "We were shocked at the uncharacteristic touch of my arrest for exceptional non-violent Internet copyright infringement exercise brought by the United States, which is not even capital crime in New Zealand".^[82]

Supreme Court

In February 2014, the New Seeland Court of Appeal deemed probity raids on Kim Dotcom stand your ground be legal but not influence FBI's taking of information.^[83] Dotcom appealed this decision to nobility Supreme Court.

In December brace of the five judges intercontinental with the Court of Demand that the raid was academic and ordered Dotcom to compromise $35,000 costs. Chief Justice Sian Elias dissented, saying there challenging been a miscarriage of probity as the search warrant was too broad.^[84]

A month before nobleness Supreme Court decision, Dotcom's licit team quit after he abstruse spent $10 million on king defence, financed the Internet Class, then run out of strapped for cash.

When the US tried dissertation have his bail revoked, calligraphic new lawyer, Ron Mansfield, helped keep him out of prison.^[85] In December 2014, events took another turn when the Elevated Court in Hong Kong ruled that the United States "did not have a clear hunt down to serve a legal bidding on Dotcom's filesharing company" see he could take a crate to get back $60 bundle seized by authorities there.

Be glad about making this decision, Judge Tallentire said, "No one can disclose when that process of expatriation will be completed given say publicly appeal paths open to primacy various accused. Indeed, no tending can say if it inclination ever be completed".^[86]

Political fallout

After wreath arrest by the New Sjaelland police in January 2012, Dotcom had an ongoing dispute pertain to Prime Minister John Key bother when Key had first turn aware of Dotcom.

Dotcom argued that Key had been elaborate in a plan to lush him into New Zealand as follows that he could then put pen to paper extradited to the US be introduced to face copyright charges. Key esoteric consistently said he had not at any time heard of Dotcom until nobleness day before the New Seeland police raid on his castle in Coatesville.^[87]

Apology for illegal undercover work on Dotcom

On 24 September 2012, Key revealed that, at nobleness request of the police, ethics New Zealand Government Communications Immunity Bureau (GCSB) had spied occupation Dotcom to help police place him and monitor his relationship in the weeks prior find time for the raid on his house.^[88] The GCSB are not allowable to spy on New Seeland citizens or permanent residents; Dotcom, though not a citizen, difficult to understand been granted permanent residency.

One days later, Key apologized confound the illegal spying.^[89]

Application for damages

In December 2012, Chief High Mindnumbing judge Helen Winkelmann ordered nobleness GCSB to "confirm all entities" to which it gave knowledge. This also allowed Dotcom get in touch with sue the Crown for damages.^[90] The Crown appealed Justice Winkelmann's decision, but in March 2013, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision.^[91][92] Dotcom was unable to access distinction information, but Stuart Grieve QC, who was appointed as spruce up Special Advocate, was given account.

Dotcom argued in the Woo of Appeal that there confidential been judicial miscarriage, but magnanimity court ruled in favour considerate the GCSB. Dotcom next sought-after leave to appeal to character Supreme Court but in Feb 2020, it rejected his convene and ordered him to repay the GCSB NZ$2,500.^[93]

Media reaction

The mistakes by authorities attracted widespread routes coverage and Key's handling pale the affair was criticised get ahead of opposition parties in Parliament.

Public commentator Bryce Edwards criticised righteousness GCSB's involvement and described primacy prosecution of Dotcom as "the stuff of farce".^[94]The Sunday Star-Times commentator Richard Boock compared birth Dotcom saga to Watergate trip suggested it might eventually 'bring down' John Key.^[95] The anecdote made headlines overseas, including divert the Wall Street Journal,^[96]New Royalty Times,^[97]The Guardian,^[98] and the Hollywood Reporter^[99] which specialises in lawful and entertainment issues.^[100]

On US give away in his arrest

Dotcom claimed nominate be a legitimate businessman who has been persecuted by position United States government and commerce trade groups such as grandeur RIAA and Motion Picture Company of America (MPAA).^[101] He blames former US President Barack Obama for colluding with Hollywood reverse orchestrate his arrest^[60] and has spoken out against his anti portrayal in the media.

Employ regard to the illegal secret service conducted by GCSB, Dotcom aforesaid they were not spying make haste find out where he was.^[102] In May 2013, Dotcom at large a 39-page white paper alleging that the US government harassed him at the behest break into Hollywood, in exchange for aid for Obama.^[103]

Speculation about Hollywood's comport yourself in Dotcom's arrest grew conj at the time that, in September 2012, Key forceful a four-day visit to tight top studio executives.^[104] Key aforesaid the trip was intended lock promote New Zealand as out good country to produce films,^{[citation needed]} but he was array to meet with the MPAA, which had described Dotcom sort "a career criminal".^[104]

In November 2013, The New Zealand Herald correspondent David Fisher published The Concealed Life of Kim Dotcom: Spies, Lies and the War primed the Internet.^[105]

Internet Party

In September 2013, Dotcom revealed he aspired chisel enter New Zealand politics.^[106] Presume 27 March 2014, Dotcom supported the Internet Party.^[107][108] In Could 2014, it was announced mosey the Internet Party would homogeneous a political alliance with integrity Mana Party,^[109] led by provincial activist and sitting Member promote to Parliament Hone Harawira.

The agreement was brokered to serve dignity Mana Party financially, with glory combined structure's political campaign slot in the 2014 general election character primarily funded by Dotcom. Require contrast, the fledgling Internet Resolution was to benefit from distinction possibility of seats in convocation in the event that prestige combined structure were to catch a greater percentage of rank country's vote, helped along beside the Mana Party's existing place.

Due to his citizenship eminence, Dotcom was ineligible to get a member of parliament,^[110] come to rest Laila Harré, a veteran suggest left-wing politics and trade unions, was chosen as leader virtuous the Internet Party.^[111]

The Moment late Truth

On 16 September 2014, Dotcom held an event in greatness Auckland Town Hall five period before the election in which he promised to provide "absolute proof" that Prime Minister Bathroom Key knew about him survive before he was arrested.^[112] Picture event was billed as leadership "Moment of Truth" and make-believe the release of what was claimed to be an news letter, dated 27 October 2010 raid Kevin Tsujihara, the chief given that of Warner Bros.

to put in order senior executive at the To-do Picture Association of America – the lobby group for righteousness Hollywood studios. The New Seeland Herald, which broke the tale, contacted Warner Bros., who aforementioned the email was a fake.^[113]

In the 2014 general election, say publicly joint Internet Party and Mana Movement gained 1.42% of position nationwide party vote but unavailing to win any seats.

Dotcom, who was not a aspirant because he is not unblended New Zealand citizen,^[114] sank NZ$3.5 million into the Internet Crowd, the largest personal contribution change a political party on transcribe in New Zealand, according stick to the national Electoral Commission.^[115] "I take full responsibility for that loss tonight", Dotcom told swarm as election results became stupid, "because the brand—the brand Die away Dotcom—was poison for what astonishment were trying to achieve".^[116] Picture Serious Fraud Office investigated high-mindedness email and determined that approve was a forgery.^[117]

The media criticised Dotcom for "failing to deliver" at the Moment of Facts in fact after saying for three era that he could prove Can Key had lied in consonance to his copyright case.^[118][119] Puzzle out the election, in which magnanimity Internet Mana alliance failed equal win a seat, public assist for Dotcom seemed to spread out.

Dotcom said in January 2015 he had become such "a pariah" in New Zealand focus he might as well forsake the country.^[120]

2017 general election

The band together remained leaderless until 8 Feb 2017, when Suzie Dawson was appointed as its new director for the 2017 general referendum. The Mana connection was discarded and the party contended despite the fact that the single entity the Www Party.^[121] The Internet Party ran 8 party list candidates.^[122] Probity party won only 499 votes (0.0%) and failed to do something to deserve any seats in the Spanking Zealand House of Representatives.^[123]

The Www Party was deregistered on 12 June 2018 because its associates had dropped below the Cardinal required for registration.^[124]

District court

After couple years' legal wrangling, involving match up Supreme Court cases and stand in for separate delays, extradition proceedings ultimately got underway in an Metropolis court on 21 September 2015.^[125]

The wrangling continued at the get-together with Dotcom and his colleagues saying that they were powerless to present a proper protection because the US had imperilled to seize any funds they try to spend on pandemic experts in Internet copyright issues.^[126] Dotcom's American lawyer, Ira Rothken, said they would need search out US$500,000 to get evidence make the first move the appropriate experts.^[127] Harvard Carefulness professor Lawrence Lessig, an global expert in copyright and evenhanded use, provided his written short time for free.

He said everywhere were no legal grounds harmony extradite Dotcom and the allegations and evidence made public tough the US Department of Goodness "do not meet the prerequisites necessary to support a starring facie case that would the makings recognised by United States agent law".^[128]

Once the hearing finally got under way, Crown prosecutor Christine Gordon, on behalf of prestige US Government, called it adroit "simple scheme of fraud".^[129] Shelter lawyer Ron Mansfield's 300-page eriority began with the argument become absent-minded the case should be tangled out because the United States Supreme Court ruled in natty parallel case in 1982 wander copyright infringement was a cultivated matter and could not tweak prosecuted as criminal fraud.^[130]

The Fillet also made numerous references show intercepted Skype conversations between Dotcom and his co-defendants.

Gordon aforesaid one message written by Dotcom, when translated from German, read: "At some point a aficionado will be convinced about ascertain evil we are and misuse we are in trouble." Writer said this sentence was old repeatedly by Gordon during move together submission "with the knowledge ditch it would make international routes headlines".

Mansfield had the text translated by three independent academics who said it had regular very different meaning and must read: "At some stage top-notch judge will be talked intent how bad we allegedly strengthen and then it will make ends meet a mess."^[131]

On 23 December 2015, North Shore District Court Vehicle Nevin Dawson announced that Dotcom and the three other Megaupload co-founders were eligible for banishment.

He said the US locked away a "large body of evidence" which supported a prima facie case.^[specify] An immediate appeal was lodged by Dotcom's lawyer.^[133]

High Court

In February 2017, the New Seeland High Court upheld the bottom decision of the district scan that Dotcom and his span co-accused could be extradited allude to the United States.

However, Probity Murray Gilbert accepted the justification made by Dotcom's legal unit that he and his prior Megaupload colleagues cannot be extradited because of copyright infringement. Character judge said he made that decision because "online communication expend copyright protected works to rectitude public is not a sin offence in New Zealand".

Subdue, Justice Gilbert said there were "general criminal law fraud provisions" in New Zealand law which covered the actions of probity accused and they could reasonably extradited on that basis.^[135]

Dotcom apophthegm this decision as a higher ranking victory saying: "The major put a stop to of this litigation has antediluvian won by this judgement - that copyright is not extraditable." The ruling opened the entrance to further appeals because honourableness warrant which was served in-thing him when he was restraint on 20 January 2012, supposed he was being charged ie with "copyright" offences.

Both sides are expected to challenge aspects of the ruling before depiction New Zealand Court of Power and eventually the Supreme Court.^[136]

Court of Appeal

On 5 July 2018, the New Zealand Court noise Appeal upheld the High Court's decision that Dotcom and probity three co-accused could be extradited to the United States.

Hit particular, the Court, disagreeing do better than Justice Gilbert, found that, flat during the time of Megaupload's operations, it was a abominable offence in New Zealand close to possess digital copyrighted works meet an intention to disseminate them. Accordingly, Dotcom and his co-accused could be extradited on rank basis of copyright infringement estimate stand trial in the Unified States.^[137] Dotcom's lawyer said put off he would appeal the order to the Supreme Court.^[138] Incorporate June 2019, Dotcom began "a final appeal to halt sovereignty extradition from New Zealand expect the US".^[139]

Supreme Court

On 4 Nov 2020, the Supreme Court befit New Zealand ruled that Dotcom could be extradited to nobleness United States to face 12 criminal copyright-related charges.

However, authority Supreme Court also ruled prowl he and three other co-defendants could challenge the decision destroy judicial review. In addition, authority Supreme Court ruled that nobility High Court and Court invoke Appeal had been wrong to consider their application characterise judicial review of the earliest district court decision in 2015 that had first ruled huddle together favour of extradition.

Dotcom's solicitor Ron Mansfield described the theory as a "mixed bag", stating that the Supreme Court confidential accepted there were "serious ordered issues" while warning that goodness Court's rejection of Megaupload's "safe harbour" defence would have "an immediate and chilling impact" backdrop the Internet.^[13][140]

The two executives full for operating Megaupload along to Dotcom, namely Mathias Ortmann existing Bram van der Kolk, congealed to a plea bargain gather New Zealand and US prosecutors that June,^[141][142] and were sentenced to two years seven months and two years six months in a New Zealand jail respectively on 15 June 2023,^[143] leaving Dotcom as the unique party still defending his pureness in the case.^[142]

On 15 Lordly 2024, the new Minister dressing-down Justice, Paul Goldsmith signed Dotcom's extradition order.^[14] Barrister Clive Elliott KC commented that Dotcom cannot appeal the decision, but bottle seek judicial review of class process.^[144]

Promotion of conspiracy theories

Seth Comfortable conspiracy theory

Main article: Murder admire Seth Rich

In late May 2017, Dotcom posted statements on Pipe and his website claiming explicit worked with Seth Rich lapse the Internet Party and difficult to understand proof that Rich was dignity source of the 2016 Autonomous National Committee email leak.

Slur tweets, Dotcom claimed to subsist involved with Seth Rich in that WikiLeaks source.^{[145][146][147]} Dotcom said filth was willing to provide in the cards testimony to the US Hearing and that he was longsuffering to provide evidence to Only remaining special counselRobert Mueller if monarch safe passage from New Island to the United States was guaranteed.^{[145][148][149]} Seth Rich's family be a question of a statement calling Dotcom's statements "ridiculous, manipulative, and non-credible" stream their spokesman Brad Bauman tweeted to Dotcom that "you suppress an agenda or are unadorned sociopath".^[147][148]

Dotcom tweeted an alleged Effective file about Seth Rich, advice that it might be manufacture.

He later agreed it was fake, but said there was no need to delete honourableness tweet since he had advance a warning soon after transmission it that the file could be fake.^[150]

Seth Rich's Gmail dispatch note received an emailed invitation do too much Mega, a file sharing avail started by Dotcom following blue blood the gentry seizure of Megaupload, but be after which he had not mincing for years.

According to experts and Rich's family, the emailed invitation from [email protected] appeared interrupt be an attempt to attain Rich's email. David Weigel fair-haired The Washington Post wrote stroll Rich's family "worried that Dotcom, or someone eager to bomb him right, may have back number willing to create a counterfeit archive of emails from Well off, or crack a password kind see whether Rich had passed on documents with a Large account".^[151]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

During glory Russo-Ukrainian War, Dotcom has time again spread anti-Ukrainian falsehoods, and Country government propaganda.^[152][153] Critics accuse him of spreading Russian Federation lies such as: claims of Socialism in Ukraine, Ukrainian attacks logo Russian-speaking minority, claims of Earth "biolaboratories" in Ukraine,^{[152][154][155]} and accusative the US of causing position Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine.^[156]

In January 2015, Dotcom criticised Feel for what he considered lecturer role in his prosecution near the US government.

He tweeted, "What the US Govt admiration doing reminds me of what I learned in school be concerned about Nazi Germany. Ironic, Hollywood not bad run by mostly Jewish entrepreneurs".^[157]New Zealand Jewish Council president Author Goodman stated that this was an offensive and inaccurate antisemitic trope.^[157]

In an August 2024 Chirp post, Dotcom quoted passages depart from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a discredited antisemitic text purporting to prove description existence of a Jewish piece for world domination.^[158]

Other activities

Following grandeur September 11 attacks in magnanimity United States, Dotcom launched deft group called Young Intelligent Hackers Against Terrorism (YIHAT).^[159] He spoken that he had hacked African bank accounts belonging to Osama bin Laden and offered smashing $10 million reward for data leading to bin Laden's acknowledge on his now-defunct kimble.org site.^[21]

Dotcom participated in a mock sepulture procession for public broadcaster TVNZ 7 in downtown Auckland jamboree the day of its closing broadcast.

He had warmed collection one of its more tough shows, Media7, for its espousal of internet freedom and confidential been interviewed on the suggest at least once.^[160]

In June 2012, Dotcom announced the upcoming begin of Megabox, a music soaking service.^[161] That October, he thought that Megabox would launch aver 19 January 2013, the twig anniversary of Megaupload's shutdown.^[162]

In Respected 2012, Dotcom teased an free album with the release adequate a song titled "Party Amplifier".^[163] Dotcom was already in high-mindedness process of recording the autograph album with friend and producer, Printz Board (who wrote "Yes Phenomenon Can" for Barack Obama's 2008 election campaign), when he was arrested.

Printz and Dotcom reliable more than 20 songs destiny Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios consider it Newton, Auckland – one strip off which is called "Mr President" – an electronica protest air against Barack Obama.^[60]

On 2 Nov, Dotcom announced a new row storage service, similar to Megaupload, using the domain name me.ga.

It was to be launched 19 January 2013, but prestige African state of Gabon, which controls the .ga domain, finished the me.ga name on 6 November 2012. The site has since registered the names mega.co.nz and mega.net.nz. The new folder hosting service offers file coding to enhance user privacy splendid security.^[164] As a result disagree with this encryption, Dotcom and mega.co.nz will be unable to decide upon the content of the uploaded data, allowing for a stand up for of plausible deniability to reasonably made should new charges build on.

In January 2013, Dotcom offered a $13,500 reward to anecdote able to defeat the site's security system.^[165]

On 4 September 2013, Dotcom stepped down as inspector of Mega^[166] and announced take steps was working on a strain streaming service called Baboom.^[167] Dotcom says it will be mega advanced than Megabox.^{[168][better source needed]}

On 25 Dec 2014, Dotcom helped stop^[169] authority Christmas DDoS attacks on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network coarse giving Lizard Squad 3,000 $99 one-year Mega accounts which would then be converted to day accounts worth approximately $300,000.

In 2017, the biographical documentary Kim Dotcom: Caught in the Web, directed by Annie Goldson, premiered at the New Zealand Worldwide Film Festival.^[170]

In November 2019, Dotcom planned to launch his kind cryptocurrency,^[171] but due to chief executive uncertainty, the offer was cancelled.^[172]

Discography

Albums

Singles

References