Kim Dotcom Can Sue The New Zealand Government Over Illegal Spying

A New Zealand Court of Appeals ruling has stated that internet demigod Kim Dotcom can legally sue the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the New Zealand police for illegally spying on him and his operations

The case revealed that the GCSB had been illegally spying on Dotcom before his New Zealand mansion was raided in January of 2012, purportedly for the benefit of the FBI. The case stated that the warrants used were "unreasonably broad because they failed to address that some items located during the search…would result in the police obtaining material irrelevant to the alleged offending."

Now the GCSB will be added to the expansive case, and the claim will be part of an April hearing. An additional ruling states that the New Zealand attorney general will not have to hand over its spying evidence to Dotcom, meaning  Dotcom's legal team "will only be told what information exists and to where it was sent, but will not receive copies of the documents," explained the New Zealand Herald.

Still, it's a big win for Dotcom, especially as he continues to defend Mega as a legal file-sharing service. Ira Rothken, Dotcom's lawyer, has been tweeting all morning about the court win, highlighting that his team will "look forward" to this twist in the seemingly-endless tale that is the legacy of Megaupload.

We look forward to holding GCSB spy org accountable doing so will not only protect @kimdotcom's rights but the rights of all NZ residents

— Ira Rothken (@rothken) March 7, 2013