Kim Dotcom, the controversial internet entrepreneur, is set to face US justice after a long-running legal battle. New Zealand's Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has signed an extradition order, paving the way for Dotcom to stand trial in the United States over charges related to his defunct file-sharing website, Megaupload.
The German-born Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency, has been fighting extradition since 2012, when the FBI orchestrated a dramatic raid on his Auckland mansion. The case has been a focal point of international copyright law and internet freedom debates for over a decade.
"I considered all of the information carefully, and have decided that Mr Dotcom should be surrendered to the US to face trial," Goldsmith stated. He added that Dotcom has been given a brief period to consider the decision and seek advice, a common practice in such cases.
Dotcom, known for his flamboyant lifestyle and outspoken views, responded to the news on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). "The obedient US colony in the South Pacific just decided to extradite me for what users uploaded to Megaupload," he posted on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to the impending order.
US authorities allege that Dotcom and three other Megaupload executives cost film studios and record companies more than $500 million by encouraging users to store and share copyrighted material. The website reportedly generated over $175 million in revenue through these practices.
The case has seen several developments over the years:
- Dotcom was arrested in 2012 along with three other executives: Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann, and Bram van der Kolk.
- Ortmann and Van der Kolk entered plea deals in 2023, resulting in jail terms in New Zealand but avoiding extradition.
- Batato passed away in New Zealand in 2022.
As this legal saga enters its final chapter in New Zealand, all eyes are now on Dotcom's next moves and the potential US trial that looms on the horizon.
* The Guardian contributed to this article.
