quote:
Originally posted by tupps:
The inequities of the extradition agreement aside, which clearly need reviewing if the statistics are correct, this is a case of a man who has hacked into computer systems, contrary to law.
He has committed an offence for which he should stand trial. And remember, the extradition is for that trial. He has not yet been convicted of any crime (although he has admitted guilt) and the court has not heard his case and not heard any mitigating circumstances. The outcome of any trial is not yet known and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that any sentence he may get could be served in an English prison.
The problem is that the powers that be are stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think the US also has a quandary: any outcome sends a message. They have to been seen to be cracking down on this as well as cracking down on this. The problem is that terrorism, for example, is not limited to planes being flown into buildings or people strapping explosives onto their body and detonating them in a crowd of people. Cyber terrorism is a real threat also. And, while I am not suggesting that McKinnon is a cyber terrorist or was doing anything more than trying to find evidence of UFOs, if someone hacks into US military computer systems what are they (the US) going to do.. as I have said, rock and a hard place.
Indeed
Perhaps then the Americans should go to the heart of cyber terrorism and start extraditing Chinese hackers. Or would that be too difficult for them?
Myself, I doubt that extraditing Gary will send a message to anyone.