Comments on: Hacker loses extradition appeal

By: Joe Pendragon

Joe Pendragon — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:03:17 +0000

Just read this post. Thanks for high-lighting Gary McKinnon’s plight.

By: L Ron Hubbard

L Ron Hubbard — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:43:45 +0000

Here is an interview with Gary. It’s quite long, but the first 3 minutes says it all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fNsah-0vpY

Watch and make up your own mind whether this is someone who acted maliciously.

By: Jack Yan

Jack Yan — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:46:47 +0000

Shame on the MPs, too, who sent this young lad to the wolves, instead of looking out for the rights of a British subject.

By: Vern

Vern — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:41:13 +0000

Remember, folks. It’s UP TO 70 years. That’s the maximum penalty under the law. Worst case scenario. That is, if they found that he was doing this for the purposes of spying. Compromising a country’s military secrets is a VERY serious offense. It puts lives in jeopardy on an unimaginable scale.

Assuming they find he was operating under the nutty idea that he was looking for UFO information, he’s bound to get a more lenient sentence. Still, he would have been fully aware there were repurcussions to compromising U.S. national security and chosen to continue regardless. So relax. He’ll get what he deserves.

By: ReliegiousMarie

ReliegiousMarie — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:27:22 +0000

Scare tactics….they want to set an example for hackers i guess…

By: Ms G

Ms G — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:21:22 +0000

70 years is rediculous. Just because it is nasa and government pc’s … A couple of years at the max. I myself dont see what damage is done, where these costs come from. People get less for way worse crimes. Way less. Unless there are reasons to suspect this guy from spying for other countries or such.
I really would like to know what type of information the guy had gotten to .. I have the feeling they turn this into a huge thing … And why he could not stay in the UK? Geeeezzzz …. And can they swear … that they theirselves don’t do it all the time … snoop around in other people’s private business …

By: roz

roz — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:57:37 +0000

whoa! 97 computers??

not to worry. they’re not gonna put this guy in jail…they’re gonna make him an indentured servant!

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:53:13 +0000

The length of the sentence sounds like it has more to do with revenge and deterrence than it has to do with justice and rehabilitation.

By: Berber Anna

Berber Anna — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:18:55 +0000

Paul B: According to an article I read, he believed that the US government was hiding information on free energy technology gained from UFOs. He reasoned that hiding such things is unconstitutional, and that if the US government was breaking the law, it was his duty to prove that. Kind of a vigilante idea. Basically, he knew he was breaking the law, but because they were (in his mind) doing so too (and in a worse way), he thought his actions were justified and would never be prosecuted.
Nice stack of delusional ideas, hm?

By: Paul B

Paul B — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:46:18 +0000

Whilst I do think 70 years is a bit harsh, I also can’t help but think that he did know that what he was doing was wrong – someone with the technical ability to do what he did must know that what he was attempting is fundementally illegal.

I also don’t quite understand his defence that he was looking for documents on UFO’s (unless he is playing the defence that this clearly makes him mentally unstable! ) – irrrespective of whatever the documents are, if the government deeps them secret, he’s breaking the law by attempting to access them – wether it’s details of UFO’s, military aircraft or undercover agents.

Paul B