Kim Dotcom on Thursday announced the launch of a new political party in New Zealand just ahead of September general elections in the country.
The internet tycoon, whose site MegaUpload was shut down by US authorities in 2012, said his Internet Party “is a movement for the freedom of the internet and technology, for privacy and political reform.”
Dotcom is accused of illegally earning around $175 million through the website, while causing losses of at least $500 million for the US entertainment industry. He is currently fighting extradition to the U.S. over gross copyright infringement charges.
The 40 year old, who denies of any wrongdoing, said his party is for “people who haven’t voted before, who have been disappointed by voting, or who don’t like the political choices on offer”.
“It is a movement for people who care about a digital future, and who want a society that is open, free and fair,” Dotcom said in a statement.
The German born entrepreneur said his party was “a breath of fresh air, and a dose of common sense, for a tired and adversarial political system that has lost touch with modern New Zealand and the internet generation”.
He said his party’s promises include “the delivery of faster, cheaper internet to all New Zealanders, the creation of hi-tech jobs, the protection of privacy and the safeguarding of New Zealand’s independence.”
He also launched an app to enable people join the party online by paying a $NZ1.29 ($A1.21) membership fee for three years.
Although Dotcom has the right to vote in New Zealand but he cannot stand as one of the candidates in the elections election until he becomes a citizen.
