Keeping Gary McKinnon in the UK.

Jacqui D · 12-06-2008, 06:28 PM

Brown urged to keep hacker in UK

Supporters of Gary McKinnon want him to be tried in the UK
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been urged to halt the extradition to the US of computer hacker Gary McKinnon.

Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US of breaking into military computers.

Supporters held a vigil and delivered a letter to Downing Street calling for him to be tried in the UK instead.

Campaigners said the fact that Mr McKinnon has Asperger's Syndrome should be taken into account.

Decision due

Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon trespassed on networks owned by Nasa, the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defense in 2001 and 2002.

Despite taking his appeal to the House of Lords last year, he lost a six-year legal battle to avoid extradition.

The European Court of Human Rights also declined to back Mr McKinnon's case against extradition.

A decision on his proposed extradition is expected at a High Court hearing on 20 January.

Gary is terrified, he's in pieces - the whole situation is heartbreaking, it's gone on for so long

Janis Sharp, Gary McKinnon's mother

Supporters held a candlelit protest outside the US Embassy on Friday.

Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp said: "Gary is terrified, he's in pieces. The whole situation is heartbreaking, it's gone on for so long."

She added: "I think the US was embarrassed because Gary came out and said there were no passwords and no firewalls."

The US military said that Mr McKinnon left 300 computers at a US Navy weapons station unusable immediately after the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Mr McKinnon claims he was looking for UFO files.

Nadine Stavonina-de Montagnac, co-founder of the Autistic Culture Movement and Free Gary campaign spokeswoman, said this kind of obsessive behaviour was characteristic of people with Asperger's.

She said: "His obsession was so strong, he couldn't fight it. Even now Gary doesn't know what he's done wrong."

She added: "He is such a vulnerable man and I'm relying on Gordon Brown to help him."

ucan · 12-06-2008, 07:09 PM

It's a real shame, Gary is being scapegoated for their own embarrassment - Look into the case of Kevin Mitnick for another example, the PTB are terrified of computer security breaches. When it's there own fault they think making an "example" will deter other would-be-hackers.

Kevin Mitnick spent five years in prison, of which four and a half years were pre-trial, and eight months were in solitary confinement, which is a crime in itself - there were many claims as to what he was capable of doing such as whistling down a telephone to activate nuclear missiles - all bogus of course. There's a great film produced by www.2600.com called Freedom Downtime that covers the story very well.

Gary is not even a particularly skilled hacker - it was their own fault, he was able to access the computers because of basic stupidity with the security - anyone who hasn't seen the Project Camelot interview yet is well advised.

My heart goes out to Gary. This is the first I've heard for a while and I'm glad to hear he has friends who are helping his cause in this way - I just hope that he prevails and is not extradited!

Jacqui D · 12-06-2008, 07:16 PM

Totally agree UCAN, i really feel for this fella, basic breeches in ther own inability to secure their network can only be discribed as down right stupid!
This is more to do with what Gary actually found, still the truth is hidden although Gary's story has hit major news in the media.
It's good to see so many have come out to help him.
Now more support is needed for others who have found themselves in similiar situations.

12-06-2008, 06:28 PM	#1
Jacqui D Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kent,England Posts: 1,267	Keeping Gary McKinnon in the UK. Brown urged to keep hacker in UK Supporters of Gary McKinnon want him to be tried in the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been urged to halt the extradition to the US of computer hacker Gary McKinnon. Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US of breaking into military computers. Supporters held a vigil and delivered a letter to Downing Street calling for him to be tried in the UK instead. Campaigners said the fact that Mr McKinnon has Asperger's Syndrome should be taken into account. Decision due Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon trespassed on networks owned by Nasa, the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defense in 2001 and 2002. Despite taking his appeal to the House of Lords last year, he lost a six-year legal battle to avoid extradition. The European Court of Human Rights also declined to back Mr McKinnon's case against extradition. A decision on his proposed extradition is expected at a High Court hearing on 20 January. Gary is terrified, he's in pieces - the whole situation is heartbreaking, it's gone on for so long Janis Sharp, Gary McKinnon's mother Supporters held a candlelit protest outside the US Embassy on Friday. Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp said: "Gary is terrified, he's in pieces. The whole situation is heartbreaking, it's gone on for so long." She added: "I think the US was embarrassed because Gary came out and said there were no passwords and no firewalls." The US military said that Mr McKinnon left 300 computers at a US Navy weapons station unusable immediately after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Mr McKinnon claims he was looking for UFO files. Nadine Stavonina-de Montagnac, co-founder of the Autistic Culture Movement and Free Gary campaign spokeswoman, said this kind of obsessive behaviour was characteristic of people with Asperger's. She said: "His obsession was so strong, he couldn't fight it. Even now Gary doesn't know what he's done wrong." She added: "He is such a vulnerable man and I'm relying on Gordon Brown to help him."

12-06-2008, 07:09 PM	#2
ucan Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 85	Re: Keeping Gary McKinnon in the UK. It's a real shame, Gary is being scapegoated for their own embarrassment - Look into the case of Kevin Mitnick for another example, the PTB are terrified of computer security breaches. When it's there own fault they think making an "example" will deter other would-be-hackers. Kevin Mitnick spent five years in prison, of which four and a half years were pre-trial, and eight months were in solitary confinement, which is a crime in itself - there were many claims as to what he was capable of doing such as whistling down a telephone to activate nuclear missiles - all bogus of course. There's a great film produced by www.2600.com called Freedom Downtime that covers the story very well. Gary is not even a particularly skilled hacker - it was their own fault, he was able to access the computers because of basic stupidity with the security - anyone who hasn't seen the Project Camelot interview yet is well advised. My heart goes out to Gary. This is the first I've heard for a while and I'm glad to hear he has friends who are helping his cause in this way - I just hope that he prevails and is not extradited!

12-06-2008, 07:16 PM	#3
Jacqui D Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kent,England Posts: 1,267	Re: Keeping Gary McKinnon in the UK. Totally agree UCAN, i really feel for this fella, basic breeches in ther own inability to secure their network can only be discribed as down right stupid! This is more to do with what Gary actually found, still the truth is hidden although Gary's story has hit major news in the media. It's good to see so many have come out to help him. Now more support is needed for others who have found themselves in similiar situations.