U.S. Seeks Extradition of Anti-War Activist Kim Dotcom from New Zealand

Aug. 16—The German-born resident of New Zealand, Kim Dotcom (his birth name was Kim Schmitz), is set to be extradited to the United States, according to a ruling by the Justice Minister of New Zealand Paul Goldsmith on Aug. 15. Kim Dotcom will face multiple charges in the U.S. stemming from allegations that his website, Megaupload, was used by customers to upload copyrighted music and other entertainment. His website has been closed since 2012, but the legal battle over his extradition has continued since then, according to Reuters.

Dotcom is an outspoken opponent of NATO war hawks everywhere and has on occasion invited Schiller Insitute chairwoman Helga Zepp-LaRouche to appear on his show. The Ukraine presidency’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) included him on its first hit list of alleged “Russian propagandists” in July 2022, and has been singled him out on multiple occasions. In April 2024 Dotcom was included in a short list of alleged enemies of Ukraine operating in Germany, which sent a delegation to hand deliver the report to German authorities with the demand for immediate action.

In addition to his enemies in the pro-war circles, the U.S. prosecution charges Kim Dotcom has cost Hollywood studios and the recording industry an estimated $500 million in lost revenue. While some are desperate to get him in a U.S. courtroom, Dotcom remains calm. Replying in a pair of tweets Aug. 15: “Oops. Don’t worry, I have a plan.” and “I love New Zealand. I’m not leaving.”

In an analysis of the suit, Kim Dotcom, including a post from WikiLeaks, wrote: “It all started because I became a large donor to @Wikileaks after [WikiLeaks founder]Julian  [Assange]revealed US war crimes with the collateral murder video. And the moment I got out on bail I created Mega and sent the first $100k I made to Wikileaks. I would do it all over again. Fuck the criminal US Govt.”