New Zealand PM orders inquiry into Kim Dotcom surveillance and arrest

24 Sep 2012

The founder of the file-sharing site Megaupload, Kim Dotcom

The Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key has ordered an inquiry into potential unlawful spying on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, who is fighting extradition to the US.

In June, a New Zealand court ruled that search warrants used in the raid on Dotcom’s home requested by the FBI were illegal.

Dotcom was arrested in Auckland, New Zealand, in January and his computers, cars and works of art were seized.

Dotcom, who also goes by the name of Kim Schmitz, is the head of an organisation alleged to have netted US$175m by copying and distributing music, films and other copyrighted content.

The raid and arrest of Dotcom has already been ruled illegal and a court has ruled that Dotcom should be allowed to see the evidence against him.

Dotcom claims Megaupload is just a content-storage site and claims Hollywood lobbied the US authorities to have him seized.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com