UK Hacker Loses Appeal to Block Extradition to US
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: british, hacker, government, extradite | Themes: Business
Gary McKinnon, the British hacker accused of hacking into Pentagon and NASA computers has lost his extradition appeal in the UK.
Yesterday the House of Lords refused to block McKinnon’s possible extradition to the the US. If extradited, McKinnon faces charges for allegedly hacking into 97 U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defense and NASA computers in 2001 and 2002.
Court documents say McKinnon is accused of scanning over 73000 government computers, 97 of which he gained access to with his dial-up modem and some off the shelf software. In all, McKinnon managed to take over 2000 computers at the US Army Military District of Washington offline for a day and disable a network of 300 machines at a Naval weapons station in New Jersey. His antics cost the US government a reported $700,000 in damages.
McKinnon’s hacking was, he claims, an effort to uncover X-Files type information regarding UFOs he thought the government was covering up. However, evidence suggests otherwise. During questioning Gary McKinnon admitted to leaving a note on one government computer criticising US foreign policy.
“US foreign policy is akin to government-sponsored terrorism these days . . . It was not a mistake that there was a huge security stand down on September 11 last year . . . I am SOLO. I will continue to disrupt at the highest levels . . .”
Unfortunately for McKinnon, the House of Lords was the last legal option to block extradition. However, McKinnon’s lawyer has said they will be appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in France and UK authorities have reportedly agreed to allow him stay in the country for at least two weeks while the application is prepared.
If McKinnon goes to trial in the US he could face up to 60 years in prison. McKinnon spoke to the BBC about the prospect of being extradited to the US.
"If that fails, then it’s off to jail in America for 60 years. Rapists and murderers and real terrorists get less."
Those opposed to Gary’s extradition have set up a FreeGary website, campaigning to have McKinnon stand trial in the UK and serve his sentence in a British prison.
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Hes not American and he wasn't in America at the time of the crime therefor I think its complete bull that hes getting sent over here.
He should be tried in the UK and based on the UK laws. I think the US military is just afriad of him talking about what he has seen.
All I can say to this dude is HAHA!
I wonder how many times a US citizen has been extradited to the UK?
All except his note, who's fault is it that he was able to get into these networks? Its always about placing blame on someone else for someone elses blunder. The jurisdiction of electricity is tricky! I do agree with an open court type of system where the accuser and the accused meet on neutral ground. If they are found guilty then they are jailed in the country they have citizenship with.
It isn't our governments fault that McKinnon was trying to get into someone else's computers. It doesn't matter whether you are anti/pro government, the fact that he was attacking computers that belong to someone else makes him a hacker. If you commit against a country that is against the laws of that country then that country should have the right to pursue justice according to their laws against you. 'Nuff said.
LOL afraid of him, he obviously has nothing that he found from his exploits because first of all he didn't talk about what he found, second the secrets of that type of magnitude he was talking about would only be stored on a separate network (not a civilian network i.e. the internet) away from some secretaries computers he prob hacked and screwed up some excel files lol. However, I was surprised that the UK would do that with their on citizen considering most Western European countries often refuse to extradite US citizens because of our "cruel prisons", although we have criminals who are ten times rougher and hardcore then theirs are(Been shown tough criminals react to tough punishment in the form of not wanting to go back to jail, increases risk of running from police but also reduces crime rate greatly)Ever hear of Joe Arpaio?
I suppose the reality is that this individual should face the US courts for doing something so stupid but... The problem is that with the current social climate in the US that , they will make an example out of him and he will not get a 'fair trial'. So , in short he should be trialed in the UK under US supervision to ensure that they get justice and he is treated fairly.
i think that he should stay in the UK
why? well why would USA tax dollars pay for a UK citizen for 60 years when they could jail him in th UK and let UK pay for him
also the USA should beef up there security if some guy and his modem and off the shelf supplies can hack in to us militery and government PCs
MY IDOL.
This guy took a small stand against the monopolized corporate government of America. In my book he should be heralded a hero.
AGREED.
just shoot him. nobody cares