Tag Archives: Kim Dotcom

Civil Liberties, Featured, Government Accountability, International, US

Julian Assange’s Internet Cut By Ecuadorian Government

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London, UK – In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ecuadorian government confirmed it had cut Assange’s internet communications with the outside world at their London embassy, claiming that his posts on social media put the country’s international relations “at risk.” In addition to Assange’s internet connection being severed, he is also being denied any visitors.

According to NPR, a statement released by Ecuador claimed that “Assange violated a written contract with its government in late 2017, ‘for which he’s obligated not to issue messages that would interfere with relationships with other nations.'” Assange has been living in Ecuador’s embassy for more than five years, in what a UN panel describes as “arbitrary detention,” after seeking asylum from persecution.

A report by the Associated Press explained:

Ecuador granted Assange asylum in the South American nation’s London embassy in 2012, where he has remained cooped up ever since. Ecuador has repeatedly tried to find a solution that would allow Assange to leave without the threat of arrest, but with no success. He remains subject to arrest in Britain for jumping bail and also fears a possible U.S. extradition request based on his leaking of classified State Department documents.

“The government of Ecuador warns that Assange’s behavior, through his messages on social networks, put at risk the country’s good relations with the United Kingdom, the other states of the European Union, and other nations,” the statement read.

On the evening of March 28 Wikileaks offered additional information about the incident and Assange’s current situation, noting that Assange had been ordered by Ecuador to remove a specific tweet that weighed in on the arrest of Carles Puigdemont by German police.

The tweet from Assange reportedly ordered to be removed stated the following:

This is not the first time Ecuador has suspended his internet access. In 2016, he had his internet connection “temporarily restricted” by the Ecuadorian government after WikiLeaks published emails stolen from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, during her presidential campaign which gave the world a candid view inside of the campaign. Former president Rafael Correa gave Assange asylum after he sought refuge in the embassy and reportedly appreciated his work, but current head of state Lenín Moreno advised Assange to avoid involvement in politics and described him as a hacker, according to the AP.

Assange’s friend, Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, is holding an online vigil being broadcast to You Tube and Facebook Live to “to restore Julian Assange’s human right to freedom of communication,” according to a press release.

Supporters of Julian Assange are currently gathering outside of the Ecuadorian embassy to protest the decision to undermine his human right of communication with the outside world.

The #ReconnectJulian online vigil for Julian Assange is below:

 

Government Accountability, Politics, US

Kim Dotcom: DNC Hack Was Leak From an “Insider With a Memory Stick”

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Washington, D.C.— Following a tweet by President Trump on February 18th, Kim Dotcom responded by adding further details to previous statements which implied that the DNC hack during the 2016 US presidential election was actually a leak, and specifically claimed that the information was leaked by an “insider with a memory stick.”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/965202556204003328

“Let me assure you, the DNC hack wasn’t even a hack. It was an insider with a memory stick. I know this because I know who did it and why,” Dotcom tweeted, alleging that “Special Counsel Mueller is not interested in my evidence. My lawyers wrote to him twice. He never replied. 360 pounds!” The 360 pounds is clearly a retort to Trump’s “400 pound genius” comment.

Dotcom’s claims of attempting to provide evidence to Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who has allegedly failed to respond to Dotcom’s lawyers, may raise questions about the impartiality and veracity of the Mueller investigation.

[RELATED: Kim Dotcom Lawyers Appealing Extradition Decision]

The assertion that the DNC data was not hacked, but leaked from an insider with a memory stick, is reportedly supported by an analysis from a researcher going by the alias of the Forensicator, who determined that the 22.6 MB/s copy speed of the DNC files was “virtually impossible” to attain from overseas, but a typical speed for a transfer to a thumb drive. These results were supported in a July 2017 memo to President Trump from a group of intelligence veterans that includes former NSA intelligence official William Binney.

The local transfer theory, if proven, would lend credibility to the notion that the DNC data was not hacked, but instead, was leaked. Dotcom’s claims could also explain why the DNC refused to allow the FBI to inspect its servers, and instead, relied on the analysis of a private company, CrowdStrike.

Crowdstrike’s CTO and co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a think tank with openly anti-Russian sentiments that is funded by Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk, who happened to donate at least $10 million to the Clinton Foundation. Furthermore, in 2013, the Atlantic Council awarded Hillary Clinton their Distinguished International Leadership Award, and in 2014, the Atlantic Council hosted an event with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who took over after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in early 2014.

On May 18, 2017, Dotcom tweeted that if the case of Seth Rich would be included in the Congressional probe of Russian collusion/election meddling, he would provide written testimony to Congress, including evidence that Seth Rich was WikiLeaks’ source of the DNC emails.

Then, two days later, Dotcom tweeted, “I knew Seth Rich. I know he was WikiLeaks’ source. I was involved.”

A few days later, Dotcom released a statement, saying “I KNOW THAT SETH RICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE DNC LEAK,” adding:

I have consulted with my lawyers. I accept that my full statement should be provided to the authorities and I am prepared to do that so that there can be a full investigation. My lawyers will speak with the authorities regarding the proper process.

If my evidence is required to be given in the United States I would be prepared to do so if appropriate arrangements are made. I would need a guarantee from Special Counsel Mueller, on behalf of the United States, of safe passage from New Zealand to the United States and back. In the coming days we will be communicating with the appropriate authorities to make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, I will make no further comment.

Opinion, States Rights, US

Kim Dotcom Lawyers Appealing Extradition Decision

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Following a long battle with U.S. authorities, a New Zealand judge ruled that the U.S. has enough evidence to support a case against Kim Dotcom and can seek his extradition. Dotcom is well known for co-creating the former file-sharing website Megaupload.com and is accused of carrying out the largest copyright infringement in U.S. history.

From 2005 to 2012 Megaupload.com was one of the largest file-sharing sites in the world, allowing users to illegally download songs and movies.

New Zealand Judge Nevin Dawson ruled that Dotcom and co-creators Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato could be taken to the U.S. to face charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and racketeering, charges which could land the men in jail for several decades. The U.S. indictment covered a total of 13 charges. According to Judge Dawson the U.S. does have a legitimate case, but the judge was not asked to ruled on whether or not he felt the men were responsible for causing harm.

Judge Dawson’s ruling is the latest in a four year battle which started in January 2012 after New Zealand police raided Dotcom’s mansion in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations. The raid, carried out by dozens of heavily armed agents and two police helicopters, was challenged by critics as an unnecessary show of force for the charges. Wired called the raid a “paramilitary assault reserved for drug lords, murderers, and terrorists, not copyright infringers.”

“I’m disappointed,” Dotcom told reporters as he left the courtroom. Dotcom’s lawyer stated that they will appeal the decision but offered no further information about the case. Dotcom and his team have until February 12 to appeal the decision.

Legality of Extradition

The case of Kim Dotcom and his co-conspirators has sparked an important discussion on whether or not the United States has the right to extradite a man for violating the laws of a nation he has never even visited. When one violates the laws of a foreign nation via the internet can they legally be held responsible? And with what nation and law enforcement agency does the responsibility lie?

Supporters of Dotcom and his crew believe that the authorities have a laundry list of trumped up charges because the original accusations of copyright infringement are not enough to garner support for extradition. By forcing Dotcom to defend himself, the authorities will not only drain his bank account but tie him up in legal battles for years to come.

To be clear, the U.S. is waging a losing battle against movie and music downloads. The internet has created an abundance of options for individuals in pursuit of pirated data and media. Despite the raid on Dotcom and the subsequent halting of downloads at the original Megaupload.com, file sharing and downloading continues in 2016. The best the authorities can hope for is to create headaches and temporary barriers for those seeking downloads. The reality is that Pandora’s box is open and anyone who seeks out pirated content will have no trouble finding it.