Erosion of Internet freedom, Megaupload founder's cars seized

IN what is considered as a shocking development for internet freedom, the police is starting to haul away the car collection belonging to Megaupload.com's founder Kim Schmitz a.k.a. Kim Dotcom garage at his New Zealand Mansion.

After all, in comparison, the bankers that triggered the 1008 meltdown caused more damage to the world economy than Megaupload ever will but we do not see any of their cars being towed away, apart from small fry Bernie Madoff.

The US crackdown on Megaupload, which began with the trigger of an internet kill switch on the site on Thursday and followed by his arrest the next day has triggered a wave of attacks by Anonymous on various government websites including that for the FBI, which led the attack on Kim.

While the car's which are valued at over USD6million may be considered valuable, many activists believe that the US Government is actually robbing all internet users of their freedom in favour of the interests of big corporations.

Some see this as the trigger for the start of a new information highway, underground and away from Government interference.

In the meantime we will see increased attack on Government websites, which they may use as an excuse for further clampdown on the internet.

Twitter user Elliot Kember got shots of the car being hauled away, the photos on this page are from his flickr page. The full list of cars hauled away and their registration and VIN number is after the jump





The list of cars seized from Megaupload.com founder's New Zealand home.



THE COLLECTION

2010 Maserati GranCabrio, VIN ZAMKM45B000051328, License PlateNo. "M-FB 212" or "DH-GC 470", registered to FINN BATATO;67.

2009 Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe, VIN WDD20737225019582, LicensePlate No. "FEG690"

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, VIN WDB2093422F165517, LicensePlate No. "GOOD"

2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG 5.5L Kompressor, VINWDB2093422F166073, License Plate No. "EVIL"

2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG L, VIN WDD2211792A324354, LicensePlate No. "CEO" 7071.

2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe, VINSCA2D68096UH07049; License Plate No. "GOD";72.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, VIN WDD2120772A103834, LicensePlate No. "STONED";73.

2010 Mini Cooper S Coupe, VIN WMWZG32000TZ03651, License PlateNo. "V";74.

2010 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A608055, LicensePlate No. "GUILTY";

2007 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG, VIN WDD2163792A025130, LicensePlate No. "KIMCOM";

2009 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A542449, LicensePlate No. "MAFIA";

2010 Toyota Vellfire, VIN 7AT0H65MX11041670, License Plate Nos."WOW" or "7";

2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, VIN WDB4632702X193395, LicensePlate Nos. "POLICE" or "GDS672";

2011 Toyota Hilux, VIN MR0FZ29G001599926, License PlateNo. "FSN455";

Harley Davidson Motorcycle, VIN 1HD1HPH3XBC803936, LicensePlate No. "36YED";

2010 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, VIN WDD2163742A026653, LicensePlate No. "HACKER";

2005 Mercedes-Benz A170, VIN WDD1690322J184595, License PlateNo. "FUR252";

2005 Mercedes-Benz ML500, VIN WDC1641752A026107, License PlateNo. DFF816;

1957 Cadillac El Dorado, VIN 5770137596;

2010 Sea-Doo GTX Jet Ski, VIN YDV03103E010;

1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, VIN 59F115669;

Von Dutch Kustom Motor Bike, VIN 1H9S14955BB451257;

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, VIN WDB2094421T067269;

2010 Mini Cooper S Coupe, VIN WMWZG32000TZ03648 LicensePlate No. "T"

1989 Lamborghini LM002, VIN ZA9LU45AXKLA12158, License PlateNo. "FRP358"

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML63, VIN 4JGBB7HB0BA666219