Who is Kim Dotcom and What Did He Do?

Kim Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz in Germany in 1974, is an internet entrepreneur best known for founding the file-sharing website Megaupload.

He later changed his name to Kim Dotcom, reflecting his success in the tech industry.

Dotcom rose to international prominence through Megaupload, a popular platform for sharing large files like movies, music, and software.

At its peak, Megaupload had over 150 million registered users and accounted for a significant portion of global internet traffic.

However, Megaupload attracted the attention of U.S. authorities due to allegations of widespread copyright infringement.

In January 2012, Dotcom was arrested in New Zealand during a dramatic raid on his mansion, conducted at the request of U.S. law enforcement.

The U.S. government accused Dotcom and his associates of running a “criminal enterprise” that cost copyright holders over $500 million in lost revenue.

The charges against Dotcom include conspiracy to commit racketeering, copyright infringement, and money laundering. The U.S. government has sought his extradition from New Zealand to face trial in the United States.

Dotcom has fought the extradition for years, arguing that Megaupload was simply a platform and that he cannot be held responsible for the actions of its users. However, his extradition order was eventually signed on 15 August 2024.