Statement from Pirate Party of Canada Leader on Piratenpartei Server Seizures

Dear “The Media”

The members of the Pirate Party of Canada are troubled to learn that the German Pirate Party (Piratenpartei), the sixth-largest political party in Germany, has been targeted at the request of French police. The seizure of several servers is disproportionate to allegations that one service hosted by Piratenpartei may have been abused by a third party.

This timing is especially unfortunate as Piratenpartei is preparing for an election in two days. The seizure has effectively severed their lines of communication, a crippling blow for a party that conducts much of its day-to-day business online. I stand with many others in condemning this action.

In response to German requests, we will be making our own technical resources available to them until such a time as they are able to recover their seized assets. Around the world, we are all fighting the same fight in different forms and different places, and we stand or fall together.

The Pirate Party of Canada is a federal political party focused on thoughtful information policy reform, genuine democracy, civil liberties, and freedom of the internet. You can find out more online at www.pirateparty.ca.

Sincerely,
Mikkel Paulson

—- Press Release Below—

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

German Pirate Party Crippled by Government Seizures, Pirate Party of Canada Gives Aid

OTTAWA, ON - May 21, 2022 - On the morning of May 20th, Piratenpartei, the German Pirate Party and sixth-largest party in Germany, had its servers seized by police. The Party was accused of hosting a service that may have been abused by a third party in France. With the German election occurring in two days, this has dealt the party a severe blow. The Pirate Party of Canada has stepped forward, offering to assist Piratenpartei with hosting during this distressing time.

“Seizing these servers for what someone unrelated to the party used them for in another country would be like seizing all the computers belonging to a major corporation because someone exploited a security flaw in Internet Explorer,” says Shawn Gray, a director for the Pirate Party of Canada. “It’s outragous, and should not be tolerated.”

The Pirate Party of Canada is a federal political party focused on thoughtful information policy reform, genuine democracy, civil liberties, and the freedom of the Internet. You can find out more online at www.pirateparty.ca .

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Media Contacts: Shawn Vulliez 1-877-850-7722 x *130 [email protected]