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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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12

Brits Hold Up Hacker's Extradition

Asperger's sufferer accused of cracking Pentagon systems

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(Newser) – American authorities keen to get their hands on a man accused of the biggest military hack in history are going to have to wait. British authorities have "stopped the clock" on the extradition of Gary McKinnon while lawyers examine new medical evidence, say officials. McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, is accused of hacking into dozens of military computers. McKinnon, 43, says he was searching for information on UFOs.

McKinnon's supporters complain that being sent to a maximum-security prison in the US would destroy the accused hacker's health and violate his human rights. He faces up to 60 years in jail if convicted. "I have to ensure that his human rights are being respected," said Britain's home secretary. "It's that new medical evidence that I will be looking at very carefully."

Gary McKinnon, accused of mounting the largest ever hack of US government computer networks, arrives at an extradition hearing in central London.
Gary McKinnon, accused of mounting the largest ever hack of US government computer networks, arrives at an extradition hearing in central London.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, file)
Gary McKinnon, accused of hacking into US military computers and facing extradition to the US to stand trial, leaves the High Court in London.
Gary McKinnon, accused of hacking into US military computers and facing extradition to the US to stand trial, leaves the High Court in London.   (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)
Human rights activists demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London protesting against the extradition of Gary McKinnon.
Human rights activists demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London protesting against the extradition of Gary McKinnon.   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
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12 comments
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kyleleitch
Oct 27, 09 4:06 AM CDT
It's good that they're looking at his human rights. It's more than the US can say they do in cases like this. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Oct 27, 09 4:28 AM CDT
Example?
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-3
IN RESPONSE:
kyleleitch
Oct 27, 09 4:41 AM CDT
The US has been slow to ratify many human rights treaties proposed in the UN. Violation of human rights are especially prevalent in the judicial system. Consider: police brutality cases have increased, discriminatory racial disparities in incarceration, abusive conditions in confinement. Consider: "The United States in 2000 submitted reports on its compliance with two international human rights treaties-the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment-to the respective treaty monitoring bodies. Both reports acknowledged significant abuses of the rights affirmed in those treaties. The initial report of the U.S. to the United Nations Committee against Torture-produced four years after it was due-acknowledged areas of "concern, contention and criticism" with regard to police abuse, excessive use of force in prison, prison overcrowding, physical and mental abuse of inmates, and the lack of adequate training and oversight for police and prison guards." I can provide more examples if needed.
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Snarfeh
Oct 27, 09 9:33 AM CDT
^5 Kyle! Gitmo is also a prime example. Ironic, isn't it, that a criminal might not have to be extradited to *our* country because the United States of America abuses human rights.
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kyleleitch
Oct 27, 09 1:04 PM CDT
@Snarf, indeed, my friend, it is ironic. And let's all not forget what we've done in the past: the Native Americans, etc etc. And now: Insurance companies denying the ability to get better and he healthy, which I don't care if you're conservative, liberal, dem or republican, green party, communist, whatever. It's a human right. Quite frankly, the fact that my boyfriend couldn't go see the doctor yesterday because even though he would get a 75% discount on the visit, he still couldn't afford it is a violation of HIS human rights.
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