News: 0175222991

  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

Kim Dotcom Fends Off Arrest Before Conspiracy Theories and Reality Collide (torrentfreak.com)

(Wednesday October 09, 2024 @11:30PM (BeauHD) from the man-with-a-plan dept.)


TorrentFreak's Andy Maxwell reports:

> In August, New Zealand's Justice Minister authorized Kim Dotcom's immediate arrest and extradition. Dotcom's response to his followers on X was simple: "I'm not leaving." Another post mid-September -- "we are very close to disaster" -- led to Dotcom disappearing for three weeks. On his return, Dotcom said X had [1]suspended his account, based on an extremely serious allegation. After accusing Elon Musk of failing to help, yesterday Dotcom warned that a Trump loss would see Musk indicted and "fighting for his life." Dotcom [2]has a plan to avoid extradition ; chaos like this provides the fuel.

>

> The details of Dotcom's "plan" to stay in New Zealand are yet to be revealed. Given Dotcom's history, exhausting the judiciary with every possible avenue of appeal is pretty much guaranteed, no matter how unlikely the prospects of success. At the same time, it's likely that Dotcom will use social media to preach to the existing choir. He will also try to appeal to those who loathe him, and those who merely hate him, by focusing on a common grievance. "People keep suggesting that I should leave this corrupt US colony like a fugitive on the run. Hell no," he told 1.7 million X followers recently. "Corrupt US colony" and the interchangeable "obedient" variant are clearly derogatory, catering to theories of joint complicity and sniveling weakness. This rhetoric has been visible on Dotcom's social media accounts for some time, but the main theme is Dotcom's belligerent, out-of-the-blue support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. [...]

>

> Some people believe that Dotcom genuinely supports Russia and, with his quotes regularly appearing on state-run news channels, arguing otherwise is a pretty tough ask. A different assessment starts with the things Dotcom values most -- his family, his wealth, and his freedom -- and applies that to a reputation of doing whatever it takes to protect and maintain those three, non-negotiable aspects of his life. Right now, his best chance is to tilt the chess board via a change at the White House, and then carefully exploit a change in policy. Dotcom's colleagues [3]took a plea deal from the U.S. and New Zealand that Dotcom insists he would never accept; certainly not if Biden was in power. A Donald Trump win, on the other hand, would introduce an administration Dotcom could be seen to negotiate with, on previously unthinkable terms, without losing face. Previous reluctance to admit any wrongdoing could suddenly seem trivial after the prevention of World War 3.

>

> [Since 2022, Dotcom supported narratives more closely aligned with those of the Kremlin, in particular the claim that United States policy is the root cause of the current conflict. The amplification of anti-Ukraine rumors in the United States, strategically links alleged U.S. policy failures to billions of dollars in military aid, all at taxpayers' expense. This toxic mix, Dotcom insists, heralds the collapse of the dollar, the dismantling of the "US Empire," and ultimately a global human catastrophe; World War 3, no holds barred.]



[1] https://x.com/KimDotcom/status/1843252164564860992

[2] https://torrentfreak.com/kim-dotcom-fends-off-arrest-before-conspiracy-theories-reality-collide-241009/

[3] https://torrentfreak.com/former-megaupload-executives-sentenced-to-2-5-years-in-prison-230615/



What a tool (Score:4)

by GrahamJ ( 241784 )

I actually thought he was cool once, sticking it to MAFIAA and the man.

But now as a right wing nut job he can rot in jail for all I care.

Re: (Score:2)

by ozmartian ( 5754788 )

Sadly, this has happened to oh so many and its an obvious red flag for guilt of the highest order imho. The same path taken by the likes of Russell Brand who took it even further with his baptism and "christian awakening". Comedy gold yet some actually fall for it.

Re: (Score:1)

by starworks5 ( 139327 )

Or Julian Assange, who had to plea guilty, on charges of conspiracy to commit espionage, for publishing the collateral murder tapes of American helicopters murdering civilians, provided to him by Manning.

Re: What a tool (Score:2)

by Midnight_Falcon ( 2432802 )

Didn't he do some serious PR offensive with a mega promo with celebrities like Snoop Dogg? Snoop Dogg stopped smoking weed and hosts the Olympics now. Kim, well, he does this shit.

Re: (Score:2)

by sound+vision ( 884283 )

Snoop "giving up smoke" was promo for a propane grill or something.

Re: (Score:1)

by starworks5 ( 139327 )

This goes to show that leftists prioritize power over principals. Name me one thing that MegaUpload did that Youtube didn't also do, which circumvented the DMCA safe harbor laws. Ultimately it appears that DMCA safe harbor only applies to the small or the politically connected.

What crime did he commit? (Score:2)

by Valgrus Thunderaxe ( 8769977 )

People uploaded pirated software to his service? Then we should examine Google and Apple with the same level of criticism.

Re: What crime did he commit? (Score:2)

by jddj ( 1085169 )

He should've moved to a country with section 230...oh, wait...

Re: It's not pro-Russia to point out root cause of (Score:1)

by wasteoftime ( 1391425 )

Thats one very disingenuous take. Perhaps, just maybe, Ukrainians believe in fighting for their country and not being bullied by a bigger, stronger neighbor. You know, like the American colonists did a couple centuries ago. Or like the many former colonies did to gain their independence more recently. It might seem strange to you, coming from a strong established country, that some folks actually think fighting for their, and following generations, freedom means something. But I guess you know best for ev

Re: (Score:1)

by Black Parrot ( 19622 )

Let's see:

1. Russia invades Ukraine in an attempt to reassemble their empire. Check.

2. Ukraine defends itself. Check.

3. It's all Biden's fault. Che- Wait a minute? WTFF?

TwitX (Score:3, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward

> Dotcom said X had suspended his account, based on an extremely serious allegation.

As we've come to expect, Twitter is the true defender of free speech! Huzzah for Twitter, and three cheers for X!

Re: (Score:2)

by NewtonsLaw ( 409638 )

Yep, Elon is a man of principle and he won't let money or self-interest get in the way of his crusade to protect free speech

He'd [1]never become a hypocrite [bbc.com], would he?

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y06vzk3yjo

A "Complicit" state (Score:2)

by jddj ( 1085169 )

Well, it _is_ one of the Five Eyes, so the claim is not without evidence of NZ being complicit, or at least compliant (in the sense of being bendable, not of complying with orders)

He can hide among hobbits and sheep (Score:2)

by thesjaakspoiler ( 4782965 )

Just look at Lord of the Rings.

You wouldn't notice Kim if he were hiding among the hobbits in New Zealand.

The difference between sentiment and being sentimental is the following:
Sentiment is when a driver swerves out of the way to avoid hitting a
rabbit on the road. Being sentimental is when the same driver, when
swerving away from the rabbit hits a pedestrian.
-- Frank Herbert, "The White Plague"