Comments on: Prime Minister of New Zealand apologizes to Kim Dotcom for letting spy agency wiretap him http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Charles Richards http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543762 Charles Richards Fri, 28 Sep 2012 02:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543762 As a New Zealander I can fully understand how this type of mistake can happen. Our Fuhrer was in all likelihood very busy that day polishing the 'Junior G Man' badge he was presented by the FBI to pursue Mr Dotcom and prevent his bid for world domination. As for the half million dollar fireworks display those are common accurances in New Zealand. Aren't they everywhere? As a New Zealander I can fully understand how this type of mistake can happen. Our Fuhrer was in all likelihood very busy that day polishing the ‘Junior G Man’ badge he was presented by the FBI to pursue Mr Dotcom and prevent his bid for world domination. As for the half million dollar fireworks display those are common accurances in New Zealand. Aren’t they everywhere?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543453 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543453 Do you know how many hookers and how much blow that would have bought? Do you know how many hookers and how much blow that would have bought?

]]> By: Russell http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543430 Russell Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543430  The GCSB actions weren't directly related to the copyright charges per se - i.e. they weren't collecting evidence about copyright infringement or conspiracy. Their actions were to identify who was where, and at what time, to assist in the raid on his mansion in Coatesville. So on that basis, the original charges couldn't be thrown out. But yeah, I'd still like to see the charges dropped, mainly because they're ludicrously over-blown, without merit and because the NZ government is acting like a bunch of lickspittle toadies to the US entertainment industry.  The GCSB actions weren’t directly related to the copyright charges per se – i.e. they weren’t collecting evidence about copyright infringement or conspiracy. Their actions were to identify who was where, and at what time, to assist in the raid on his mansion in Coatesville. So on that basis, the original charges couldn’t be thrown out.

But yeah, I’d still like to see the charges dropped, mainly because they’re ludicrously over-blown, without merit and because the NZ government is acting like a bunch of lickspittle toadies to the US entertainment industry.

]]> By: Reg Robson http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543139 Reg Robson Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543139 Why did copyright become a national security issue? Why did copyright become a national security issue?

]]> By: James http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543060 James Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543060 Agreed. Though I often find it difficult to tell where decisions motivated by extensive and expensive lobbying stop and those motivated by actual policy begin. There's such a thing as being too cynical, I suppose. Agreed. Though I often find it difficult to tell where decisions motivated by extensive and expensive lobbying stop and those motivated by actual policy begin. There’s such a thing as being too cynical, I suppose.

]]> By: jimmy0404 http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543018 jimmy0404 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543018 Wow, not one Flight of the Conchords reference anyone?  Wow, not one Flight of the Conchords reference anyone? 

]]> By: AwesomeRobot http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543016 AwesomeRobot Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543016 " Also, Dotcom set off $500,000 worth of fireworks when he was awarded residency." This guy knows how to spend money. “ Also, Dotcom set off $500,000 worth of fireworks when he was awarded residency.”

This guy knows how to spend money.

]]> By: smut clyde http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543014 smut clyde Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543014 <i>“The GCSB relied on information provided to it by the Organized and Financial Crime Agency. In my view, reliance on another party by GCSB is unacceptable,”</i> "You fucked up. You trusted the police." “The GCSB relied on information provided to it by the Organized and Financial Crime Agency. In my view, reliance on another party by GCSB is unacceptable,”

“You fucked up. You trusted the police.”

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543006 Boundegar Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543006 I think you mean the RIAA.  The US has no beef with Dotcom. I think you mean the RIAA.  The US has no beef with Dotcom.

]]> By: James http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543004 James Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543004 Of course, they'll just need to clear it with the US first. Of course, they’ll just need to clear it with the US first.

]]> By: blissfulight http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543002 blissfulight Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543002 So, as restitution for this egregious violation of his civil liberties, the New Zealand government can intervene and have all the charges dropped, refuse the extradition order from the US, and return all of his seized assets, with a full apology, and Kim, in turn, will agree not to sue the government or call for the resignation and prosecution of the Prime Minister and the agency personnel who carried this out on his behalf.  Right?   So, as restitution for this egregious violation of his civil liberties, the New Zealand government can intervene and have all the charges dropped, refuse the extradition order from the US, and return all of his seized assets, with a full apology, and Kim, in turn, will agree not to sue the government or call for the resignation and prosecution of the Prime Minister and the agency personnel who carried this out on his behalf.  Right?  

]]> By: Mordicai http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1543000 Mordicai Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1543000 Right, what a non-apology apology.  Not "I'm sorry for violating your rights" but rather "I'm sorry these crummy LAWS popped up while we were violating your rights, we should have known about those dumb laws." Right, what a non-apology apology.  Not “I’m sorry for violating your rights” but rather “I’m sorry these crummy LAWS popped up while we were violating your rights, we should have known about those dumb laws.”

]]> By: photo_journ http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1542998 photo_journ Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1542998 Fruit of the poison tree. Anything coming as a result of this spying is  inadmissible. Fruit of the poison tree. Anything coming as a result of this spying is  inadmissible.

]]> By: Peter Metcalfe http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1542996 Peter Metcalfe Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1542996 The US did not persuade the government to spy on its own citizens - Kim Dotcom isn't a citizen.  He was spied on by the GCSB at the request of the police in order to track the location of Dotcom and others.  There's an interesting question about whether the police should be even asking GCSB to do this as opposed to using their own legal powers. The US did not persuade the government to spy on its own citizens – Kim Dotcom isn’t a citizen.  He was spied on by the GCSB at the request of the police in order to track the location of Dotcom and others.  There’s an interesting question about whether the police should be even asking GCSB to do this as opposed to using their own legal powers.

]]> By: Peter Metcalfe http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1542993 Peter Metcalfe Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1542993 The problem is not whether they were unaware that Kim Dotcom had residency but whether the type of residency that he had conferred him with immunity to GCSB surveillance.  When he was granted residency, he did not have the immunity but within a month, a law change kicked in giving him that immunity.  GCSB wrongly believed that he was still eligible for surveillance and that's what caused the trainwreck. The problem is not whether they were unaware that Kim Dotcom had residency but whether the type of residency that he had conferred him with immunity to GCSB surveillance.  When he was granted residency, he did not have the immunity but within a month, a law change kicked in giving him that immunity.  GCSB wrongly believed that he was still eligible for surveillance and that’s what caused the trainwreck.

]]> By: Alpacaman http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1542991 Alpacaman Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1542991 Mr. Key, you are the one responsible for that department, please, how about taking responsibility? However, I am equally interested in the Stateside happenings leading to this. Copyright consortiums with the power to get the States to ask for extradition, then to get the US to persuade our government to spy on its own citizens - that is quite a reach. Mr. Key, you are the one responsible for that department, please, how about taking responsibility?

However, I am equally interested in the Stateside happenings leading to this. Copyright consortiums with the power to get the States to ask for extradition, then to get the US to persuade our government to spy on its own citizens – that is quite a reach.

]]> By: David Heavens http://boingboing.net/2012/09/27/prime-minister-of-new-zealand.html#comment-1542987 David Heavens Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=183877#comment-1542987 So criminal sanctions for those that broke the law?  Or is that only for 'normal' people? So criminal sanctions for those that broke the law?  Or is that only for ‘normal’ people?

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