Autistic UK Hacker faces being shipped out to the US.

[SmartIdiot]

British, British Person

Bloody hell, just leave him alone
HES AUTISTIC FOR FUCKS SAKES

Even an autistic person can learn the simple rules of law. Like an animal, they don't have to understand why something is wrong, but just know not to do it. Leaving him alone would just be an excuse for bad behaviour.

Er, what? So you think people should just be conditioned into thinking a certain way even if they're not sure why? What the hell is wrong with you?

No he should not have hacked into the computers, although I don't see what America's got to hide anyway. Keeping secrets is bad people. However, his intentions were not malicious and this needs to be taken into account aswell. Oh yeah and given that he left notes on the computers to bring the security flaws to their attention I'd say he balanced it out by doing them a favour. Autistic people are wired differently, they have a different way of thinking. It's clear as fucking day that this man knew what he was doing but perhaps could not comprehend the depth of what would follow given the state of international security at the time and perhaps did not even take that into account when he did it. He does not deserve to be punished in this way.

So because he's autistic he shouldn't have to obey the law? Law which was created to keep society safe and functional?
Right...So you think if you are autistic you are above the law because you don't understand it...
And why shouldn't you hack into a military network? Generally because it could cause a lot of damage, and think of the sensitive information on it: tactics, intelligence, even soldiers personal details. That's properly what they have to hide.
His intentions were not malicious, BUT he could have easily broken or leaked something, not to mention hacking usually causes actual damage to the infrastructure of where has been accessed.
Autistic people are wired differently, but they can be taught "Don't do this". He clearly knew he was breaking the law, and for no good reason, therefore he surely would know the repercussions of his actions.

Ah but I never said, or even suggested that if you are autistic you are above the law, or that you shouldn't have to. I do appreciate what you're saying about security where sensitive information is concerned and it is probably something he did not take into account and I am aware that hacking can cause a lot of damage.

No, of course he shouldn't be let off scot-free just because he's autistic. When I said he does not deserve to be punished in this way I meant instead of having him extradited to America perhaps he should be face trial in Britain where in all likelihood he'll still get sent to jail, but at least has friends and family close by to guide and support him. Sending him to America, away from everyone who can do this, will teach him nothing and do more harm to him than good(i.e. in learning the errors of your ways) which to me seems like a totally pointless exercise, particularly for someone who needs to be taught "Don't do this".

 

[Macgyvercas]

Speaking as someone with Asperger's Syndrome, I have to say that we are not underdeveloped, rather our brains are configured differently from the rest of the population (also known as Neuro-Typicals). That said, it is no excuse to break the law. However, since he is a British citizen and commited the crime on British soil, he should be tried in England. And 60 years is far too harsh. I would say 5 years max, considering he told them how to fix the system and was only looking for aliens (any word on if he found them, by the way?)

 

[CheeseSandwichCake]

He needs to be punished for what he did, just not 60 years in prison. That's way too harsh especially if he didn't actually cause harm, not just in his case, in anyone's case.

He should tried in America, but if it does reach prison he should be imprisoned in Britain.

 

[Kojii Doom]

Us autistic computer hackers from the UK being transferred to the U.S need to stick together.

SO LEAVE HIM ALONE.

Or ill hack your computer with my autistic skillage.

 

[mlkjhgfds]

What.

Guy has a look at files and here we go - ten pages of lawful retards saying he should be robbed of his life. [Insert random insult here]

 

[Doug]

Mentally underdeveloped or not, he has no right to hack into the US governments computers, no matter what he was looking for. He could have dangerous files and be a threat to us and even if he DOES have Asperger's syndrome he should know better. So I think the US is doing something that needs to be done, I mean, he could have done some major damage had he wanted to.

Yes, but he didn't - its like saying 'He broke into a shop and COULD have stolen all the stock, but left without taking anything'. Add to that, surely its just proving the US network needs to be better secured against attack, as they obviously screwed up.

It's more like the shop door was left wide open so he had a look inside without taking anything, left the shop, then told a policeman he'd been inside the shop. Now he's being prosecuted for breaking into the shop and destroying everything.

While I'm posting, try to remember that senator who essentially said the US would try its best to make sure the guy was given the harshest punishments possible. I believe he said something like the guy would die, which is why the lawyers are also arguing from a Human Rights point of view.

True, thats probably more accurate than my metaphor.

 

[Smudge91]

60 years is way too harsh especially someone with aspergers syndrome, wouldn't it be wiser to actually employ the guy as he could probably improve security if he managed to hack in with such ease.

 

[stabnex]

hehehehehehehehe, oldest joke in the book. Everyone in America knows the real info isn't stored on the fucking internet or any computer attached to it. Way to go. As far as his punishment goes, I say do what the British always do in cases like this and hack off his hands because as far as they seem to be concerned all he did was the equivalent of stealing bread.

 

[SmartIdiot]

British, British Person

Bloody hell, just leave him alone
HES AUTISTIC FOR FUCKS SAKES

Even an autistic person can learn the simple rules of law. Like an animal, they don't have to understand why something is wrong, but just know not to do it. Leaving him alone would just be an excuse for bad behaviour.

Er, what? So you think people should just be conditioned into thinking a certain way even if they're not sure why? What the hell is wrong with you?

No he should not have hacked into the computers, although I don't see what America's got to hide anyway. Keeping secrets is bad people. However, his intentions were not malicious and this needs to be taken into account aswell. Oh yeah and given that he left notes on the computers to bring the security flaws to their attention I'd say he balanced it out by doing them a favour. Autistic people are wired differently, they have a different way of thinking. It's clear as fucking day that this man knew what he was doing but perhaps could not comprehend the depth of what would follow given the state of international security at the time and perhaps did not even take that into account when he did it. He does not deserve to be punished in this way.

So because he's autistic he shouldn't have to obey the law? Law which was created to keep society safe and functional?
Right...So you think if you are autistic you are above the law because you don't understand it...
And why shouldn't you hack into a military network? Generally because it could cause a lot of damage, and think of the sensitive information on it: tactics, intelligence, even soldiers personal details. That's properly what they have to hide.
His intentions were not malicious, BUT he could have easily broken or leaked something, not to mention hacking usually causes actual damage to the infrastructure of where has been accessed.
Autistic people are wired differently, but they can be taught "Don't do this". He clearly knew he was breaking the law, and for no good reason, therefore he surely would know the repercussions of his actions.

Ah but I never said, or even suggested that if you are autistic you are above the law, or that you shouldn't have to. I do appreciate what you're saying about security where sensitive information is concerned and it is probably something he did not take into account and I am aware that hacking can cause a lot of damage.

No, of course he shouldn't be let off scot-free just because he's autistic. When I said he does not deserve to be punished in this way I meant instead of having him extradited to America perhaps he should be face trial in Britain where in all likelihood he'll still get sent to jail, but at least has friends and family close by to guide and support him. Sending him to America, away from everyone who can do this, will teach him nothing and do more harm to him than good(i.e. in learning the errors of your ways) which to me seems like a totally pointless exercise, particularly for someone who needs to be taught "Don't do this".

So you admit he is not above the law, and therefore should be treated as such - to the full extent of the law.
As for sentencing him in Britain, is a weird idea. He essentially attacked America's military, but just because it was on British soil doesn't mean he should be then subject to British law. He attacks the US, therefore he should be bollocked by the US.
You say putting him in a US jail won't teach him anything, well neither would putting him in a UK jail. He most likely knew what was going to happen to him, therefore why the crying when he gets done for it?
Just be grateful it wasn't the Chinese military network he hacked into.

Well yeah I admit he's not above the law because it's a fact, he isn't. Yes, essentially he attacked America's military but christ, is he really that big a threat to their security? Really? A guy looking for information on UFO's? Throwing him in prison in another country away from people who can support him is absurd, he would be isolated and it would have such a detrimental effect on his mental well-being. Remember that new/strange people and environments generally don't mix well at all with autistic people (and I'm not saying that it's the same for everyone with autism before some of you get offended). Basically the wrong man did the wrong thing and now it's a debate over whether his life gets completely ruined or he faces a suitable punishment with perhaps getting a chance to live a normal life again in 20 years time.

 

[Krakyn]

Asperger's syndrome is most often an excuse for people who are social idiots to keep being social idiots. Overly diagnosed and overly self-diagnosed, Asperger's is the new ADD.

This guy knows what he did was wrong, he knew that hacking into a government computer was wrong. People with Asperger's don't have problems understanding laws. This guy is guilty.

 

[Horizontalvertigo]

screw America, fight the extradition, stick it to the man man.

 

[cowbell40]

The US should take this guy and make him one of their own hackers. Locking him away for 60 years is probably just a front for them training him.

 

[Lukeydoodly]

"Hey, US Government? Here's my middle finger."

He committed a crime in Britain, as a British citizen, as such he should be tried in Britain, as a British citizen

This.

Well said.

 

[obex]

There are extradition treaties between some countries for a reason...either you follow them or you don't (and don't come crying when they'd want someone extradited to britain and the USA answers FU)

Asperger's syndrome has nothing to do with it, it's not like he unknowignly stumbled into the US gvt computer system.

Yeh the thing is the US never extradite there citizens, if this situation was reversed i.e an American hacked the UK then they would not be extradited they would be tried in the us.

I dont think that anyone here wants him off the hook however it was a crime commited in Briton by a UK citizen so we should keep him in Briton.

Hell at least if he is tried in Briton it will be unbiased, imagine if some foreigner from another country had committed crimes against yours and you were part of the jury your going to feel some bias against him and feel less favourably towards him as he isnt a citizen.

 

[Mekado]

There are extradition treaties between some countries for a reason...either you follow them or you don't (and don't come crying when they'd want someone extradited to britain and the USA answers FU)

Asperger's syndrome has nothing to do with it, it's not like he unknowignly stumbled into the US gvt computer system.

Yeh the thing is the US never extradite there citizens, if this situation was reversed i.e an American hacked the UK then they would not be extradited they would be tried in the us.

I dont think that anyone here wants him off the hook however it was a crime commited in Briton by a UK citizen so we should keep him in Briton.

Hell at least if he is tried in Briton it will be unbiased, imagine if some foreigner from another country had committed crimes against yours and you were part of the jury your going to feel some bias against him and feel less favourably towards him as he isnt a citizen.

See, i didn't know that.If the USA won't extradite american citizens, i don't see any reason why the UK should extradite a british citizen then... (especially for a "petty" crime)

I'm not excusing what he did and he certainly should be judged, but by a british tribunal.

 

[Xojins]

The US government has no right to do that. He committed the crime in the UK, so he should stand trial in the UK. All they're trying to do is make an example of a 43-year-old autistic man.