The bigger issue here seems to be the unequal extradition conditions between the UK and the US. As I understand it the UK is obliged to simply hand over anyone the US Courts asks for, which is not the case in reverse (?).
It looks as if the campaign against these arrangements is behind the campaign in support of the hacker.
This distorts the merits or otherwise of the case.
If the guy is guilty as it would seem then what punishment would you propose if we accept that prison is unlikely to help him over his loopy ideas about UFOs?
You cannae kid a kidder kiddo!
It's interesting as we will know from the Simon Singh case that there are laws being passed/proposed in the US to ignore our stiffer libel laws, if the same ruling wouldn't be made there.
I'm not sure there is any solution to the fact that one country has harsher laws in some areas and lesser in others. That's leaving some of the more bararbaric jurisdictions out of the equation, but then you could say that countries that support the death penalty are barbaric.
Mousse from a bowl is very nice, but to put it on a person is demented!
"Kid" is somewhat emotive, McKinnon is 43.Originally Posted by Mulder
Nothing will help him with his UFO fantasies, I'm not sure they are even particularly relevent, I'm not convinced that was his motive, or atleast that it was his only motive. I maintain that 6 months to a year in a minimum security prison seems fair to me, although I have no experience in law. The whole "The big nasty US want to lock him up for decades" claim is questionable.
Last edited by NorthernSoul; 7th August 2009 at 12:58 PM.
We should thank MacKinnon for drawing our attention both to:
* the cavalier attitude some major organisations take with computer security
* the unequal extradition treaty we signed with the US
Instead, we're going to pack him off to prison! I'm not pretending he didn't do wrong but he's hardly a master criminal or a terrorist either. Maybe some good will come out of this one day, though not for Gary I suspect ...
I've reached the age where 43 is a kid!"Kid" is somewhat emotive, McKinnon is 43.
Last edited by Mulder; 7th August 2009 at 01:39 PM.
Regarding the 'unequal extradition treaty' - I think it is now equal after the US ratification in 2006.
"We all like going to sleep. One day we will go to sleep without having to set the alarm." Drut. RIP.
Have you a link for that because when it was being discussed on radio 4 last week, no one seemed to think so?
The treaty was ratified in 2006 but I think it is still the same - see here.
Last edited by Mulder; 7th August 2009 at 01:54 PM.
That's why I said 'I think'
It is very confusing
I was under the impression it was ratified & equal until all this!!
I may dig more later - this is turning out to be a very busy day. Always the way when there is a discussion I want to join in with!!
"We all like going to sleep. One day we will go to sleep without having to set the alarm." Drut. RIP.
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