New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is infringing on basic rights with a new spy bill, MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom has claimed. He alleged the government is in cahoots with the NSA and justifies the legislation with an “imaginary threat.”
The internet tycoon spoke out against the new surveillance bill that would grant the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), new powers to eavesdrop on telephone conversations. He made a speech at a meeting of hundreds of academics, civil libertarians and lawyers opposing the legislation.
In a fiery critique of the proposed law, he questioned why it was necessary and how it could be justified given the violation of citizens’ rights.
“What is the imaginary threat to New Zealand that is keeping Prime Minister John Key awake at night? What is the emergency that should necessitate such a radical termination of our basic rights and grant the government more powers to spy on us?” said Dotcom in footage of the meeting on Thursday obtained by RT’s video agency Ruptly.
He went on to claim that NSA Director General Keith Alexander came to New Zealand after it came to light that the GCSB were spying on Dotcom.
“During his stay here in New Zealand he brainstormed with the GCSB what to do about the scandal. I assume that only an American general could have had the idea to push for new spy legislation granting incredible new powers to the GCSB under such circumstances,” he posited.
Dotcom accused the government of dishonesty and attempting to cover-up the surveillance of his family when the reports went public.
“What can New Zealanders expect from the GCSB when rules are broken without any penalty or consequence?”
Last January New Zealand police stormed Dotcom’s mansion in Auckland, seizing digital material and other assets. A judge later ruled that the raid was illegal. Since then Dotcom has accused the New Zealand government of collaborating with the US secret services.
Washington has issued an extradition order for German-born Dotcom on charges of racketeering, fraud, money laundering and copyright theft in connection with video-streaming site MegaUpload. Dotcom is adamant he is innocent.