Kim Dotcom’s Extradition Hearing Begins in New Zealand

Kim Dotcom’s extradition hearing has begun in Auckland, New Zealand.

The US is seeking to extradite the German-born internet entrepreneur, and three of his colleagues, for alleged copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering.

In 2012, New Zealand’s authorities raided Kim Dotcom’s Auckland home and shut down his site Megaupload.

Megaupload once had millions of users storing files and downloading movies and songs.

US authorities say Kim Dotcom and the other executives cost film studios and record companies more than $500 million and generated $175 million by allowing users to store and share copyright material.

In order to trigger an extradition treaty between the US and New Zealand, the prosecution must prove that a crime was committed in both countries.

The hearing, to which Kim Dotcom brought his own chair for ergonomic reasons, is expected to last weeks.

“This case is not just about me. This case is about how much control we allow US corporations and the US government to have over the Internet,” Kim Dotcom said on Twitter before proceedings began.