The long legal battle between the US government and Megaupload creator Kim Dotcom has come to an end as New Zealand signed extradition orders for his trial in the US. Dotcom has been charged with several offenses, including racketeering and copyright infringement, related to his file-sharing platform. Despite arguing that his company should not be held responsible for user behavior, the Justice Minister of New Zealand has approved his extradition.
Dotcom, a vocal supporter of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, has criticized the charges as politically motivated. While facing extradition on copyright infringement charges, he was cleared of money laundering accusations. This decision was described by Dotcom as “a mixed bag.” Two other Megaupload officers negotiated plea deals to avoid extradition, while a third executive passed away in 2022.
The case has raised concerns about online freedom of speech and the liability of platforms for user actions. Dotcom’s extradition and the related legal proceedings have been closely followed as a test case for internet regulations and the limits of corporate responsibility.