Hacker McKinnon To Be Extradited To US 571
Vainglorious Coward writes "When UK hacker and Asperger's sufferer Gray McKinnon lost the judicial review of his case it seemed likely that he would be extradited to the US to face charges of hacking almost a hundred systems causing $700,000 worth of damage. Today the UK home secretary rejected his last-ditch attempt to avoid extradition adding that 'his extradition to the United States must proceed forthwith.' McKinnon's relatives are expressing concerns for his health, with his lawyer going so far as to claim that extradition would make the 43-year-old's death 'virtually certain.'"
Re:Hypocrisy (Score:3, Funny)
Because unfortunately our government overlords are attached to the rear of your government overlords.
Is he immortal? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Awesome job! (Score:4, Funny)
His name is Gary, not Gray. Stellar editing as always, slashdot staff.
If it helps, I think that for most, proper editing on Slashdot may be a gray area, while for others it's certainly grey. I don't know who Stellar is.
Re:$700,000 (Score:2, Funny)
My analogy would be that it's like the owner of a stolen car having to spend $700,000 on a secure garage after realizing that keeping the car on the street with the keys in the ignition is inadequate.
Sorry it took so long for the fix...I got on it as soon as I realized the anguish a non-car analogy would cause on /.
Re:Good grief! (Score:3, Funny)
Dude, where do you think you are?
Look to your left. Look to your right.
Re:UK citizen? (Score:3, Funny)
Prisoner are not in prison to punish them, they are in there to keep other people safe from the prisoners. He can't be rehabilitated. His attorney is ruffly saying that because he has aspergers, he has no able to stop himself. He can not or will not stop doing things like this. Next time it may cost lives, maybe someone from the UK. If the UK is unable to protect its' people then the US should have the right to protect US people.
Now if his attorney is lied (doesn't the UK have laws that punish bending of the truth by attorneys) and the guy CAN stop himself, then the UK should have done something. But like someone above said, the UK would likely not give real prison time, just probation if that. In the UK it is not that big of a crime if no one got hurt.
I am not saying he needs life in prison, but he needs real help, and oddly he is not getting it in the UK. I know that many of the prison in the US have got some vary good real mental health systems in the last 10-20 years( a lot better then it use to be). I hope that they can help him learn stop himself.
Re:Good grief! (Score:3, Funny)
It has everything to do with the issue.
As an Aspie he should just be euthanized anyway, since they don't do that in the UK maybe the US will have more luck removing this blight on humanity from existence. Hopefully before he goes on a killing spree.
Re:Yeah just ignore the science (Score:3, Funny)
Yep, totally the tooth fairy theory.
Re:Good grief! (Score:5, Funny)
700k of damages would be 700,000 dollars worth of meetings, reviews, reports and studies about what happened, why it happened and how to keep it from happening again. Plus the time of the investigation.
Re:Good grief! - Bend Over! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm sorry, did you just compare a "secure" military network controlled by the most powerful nation in the world to a defenseless little old lady?
Re:Good grief! (Score:3, Funny)
I certainly have known people with actual autism. Trying to gin up some empathy off their suffering by claiming to be "on the autistic spectrum" strikes me as lame.
I'm shocked to hear that this bozo's death is "virtually certain", while all the rest of us apparently have a shot at immortality. How unfair.
Re:Good grief! (Score:3, Funny)
Now, finally, I don't think Asperger's should be used as a cop out or an excuse, but it is medically defined and can be diagnosed
So is just about every other category of behavior. Ive been diagnosed as well, but attempting to define what I can and cannot do by a diagnosis would be a cop out. Because you have been labeled into a category of "tends to perform well here and badly here" does not in any way excuse you from laws or consequences.
While we're at it why dont we make special exemptions for those with ADHD, and depression, and OCD, and the disgruntled... Im sure we can categorize everyone in SOME way and perhaps if we continue at it long enough we can find a special reason why NOONE should be punishable for their actions. After all, we're all sick and have no personal responsibility right?
Re:Yeah just ignore the science (Score:3, Funny)
You continue to be an obtuse asshole. You declare the first guy has no understanding science, and then declare that I was somehow saying evidence didn't exist. I EXPLICITLY stated I was not familiar with the issue. I also stated, while I feel there is enough reason to be comfortable in a biological cause in Asberger's, there is no well agreed upon exact cause yet.
The point of the matter is, your potshot at that guy about science is as off base as your complete mischaracterization of my argument to that potshot. You're being willfully disingenuous to have an argument over the Internet.