Channel 4 TV News 7pm Monday 10th April 2006 will have another interview with Gary McKinnon , ahead of his extradition hearing at Bow Street Magistrates' Court this Wednesday 12th April.
Gary is facing up to 70 years in prison and a $1.2 million dollar fine, for allegedly breaking into over 90 US Military computer systems, at the Pentagon, the Nastional Security Agency, the Army, Air Force and Navy, and NASA before and after Septemeber 11 th 2001.
His extraordinary case is being heard retrospectively under the controversial Extradition Act 2003 unequal extradition procedures with the United States of America - Gary was arrested in November 2002, i.e. before the Act was passed into law.
He was only arrested on an extradition warrant last year, presumbaly so that this case would not be used to show the incompetence of the US Military, during the US Presidential Election, where the issue of military leadership and incompetence was a political hot potato.
Technically, Gary could also be facing a US Military Tribunal as an "enemmy combatant", afer all, he is actually alleged to have damaged US Military systems, something which none of the British Guantanamo Bay detainees were ever accused of.
Gary's case has also attracted the interest of the UFO enthusiast community, as he was partly looking for evidence of spaceship technology, which he claims top have found something of (not necessarily "alien" but still of interest).
Since all his alleged offences were conducted in London, and that is where he was arrested, why is he not being tried for these alleged offences in the UK, iunder UK law, which clearly has jurisdiction should have precedence over US law ?
Razta
Just seen the interview and I think that it is apoaling that they are trying to extradite him to the US after he commited the crimes in the UK and not the US and did no damage at all when he could have quite easyly.
FREE GARY!
Claire Taylor
Free Gary!
They spy on us all the time. Deserved a bit of their own medicine.
Can't they just own up about the spacecrafts?
Voshika
I think you are all missing the point - I think the point is summed up well here: http://www.whitedust.net/speaks/2387/
fg
@ Voshika - "In this case Whitedust firmly believe that the law is the law regardless of how stupid you are."
We agree taht Gary has been stipid - but British law should have precedence for alleged crimes committed here in the UK - he should be tried here, and if convicted, serve his sentence here in the UK.
Voshika
The 'scene of the crime' is in the US... if he had murdered someone in the US he'd be tried there under US law. There is no difference. The scene is in the US... even if his computer (the murder weapon in this analogy) is in the UK - that makes no difference... it's just as if the murder weapon has been removed from the scene of the crime. It's simple.
The scene of the crime is in the US.
fg
@ Voshika - our Computer Misuse Act has worldwide jurisiction and can be used to try computer crimes anywhere in the world.
It has been used to charge people in the UK of tampering with e-commerce sites in the USA.
What we insist on is some actual evidence which can be challenged in a British court.
Under the curerent Extradition treaty with the USA, which has not been ratified by the US Congress, the US Government can ask for the extradition of someine in the UK , without showing any prima facie evidence to a British court.
The reverese is not true - the British authorities have to show a US Couert some prima facie evidence firts, which is only fair and just.
On this ground alone, Gary should not be extradited to the USA, but tried in the UK.
Gary is in court this afternoon, so we will soon see the results of the Extradition hearing.
Genna/Jay
Znet....Gary denies causing damage, you should say allegedly. He is fighting for his freedom and I believe you have seriously misquoted him before.
The US shut their computers down because they knew "lots of people" were wandering around in there.
That's not Gary causing damage, it's a knee jerk reaction from embarrassed US military computer experts? in America.
How come the civilian websites he was originally accused of hacking into denied that there was any damage and the US government have now conveniently withdrawn them from the indictment.
Innocent until proven guilty I say.
Genna
fg.... Murder is not a good analogy and is a tad silly.
Computer misuse is extremely minor in relation to anything so grotesque and so serious.
Everything is so out of proportion lets keep some sense of perspective. Kids throughout the world will explore the cyberworld in the same was as they explore the real world and in the real world it's up to the authorities to make sure their security is tight.
Gary's alleged crime is akin to trespass as opposed to burglary as the security was so bad....(blank passwords etc.) that the doors were effectively wide open.
Now if doors were left open in overnight in shops, banks, museums and art galleries, Palaces; there would be many people wandering around inside to have a look.
Governments are responsible for their own security and the blame lies squarely on the military Internet security experts shoulders; so they should stop trying to shift the blame.
Jay
Josie
From: "josie betan"
Subject: SUPPORT FOR GARY
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006
I would just like Gary to know that I support him 100%. I cannot
believe that the British Government would allow him to be
extradited to America. If he is to face a trial it should be here
in Britain. When he was first arrested and released, he was told
he would receive 6 months community service, now he is facing 60
years in a Military Prison. I have never heardof anything so
ridiculous.
I have known Gary since he was six years old. He is one of the
most
sensitive, gentle, caring people you could ever meet. What he did,
was
really stupid, but unfortunately, that is part of Gary's naive
nature. If Gary's involved in terrorism then I'm the immaculate
conception. I'm sorry but it is absolutely absurd.
I actually think the American's should be ashamed of themselves to
have been so negligent in the first place. If Gary was able to get
into their systems, goodness knows who else has had access to their
files. I think they would be better off giving Gary a job so that
he could tighten up their security.
Gary, I wish you all the best. All my thoughts, heart and soul are
with you, and please God, let JUSTICE prevail.
Josie x
Voshika
Computer security is far more serious than you seem to think.
stijn van de paer
The growing national security mania of the American (political) society is becoming a big black spot on this world.
Every word on past and future important events that come out of a neo-cons mouth are blatant lies. But the media dares NOT to the investigative work that this Gary did from his couch for Christs Sake.
So kudos to Gary and shame to the mainstream media who thinks it's main purpose is to parrot the official point of view.
Terrorism, non-existence of UFO's, Yeah Right !? As Ali G would respond: "Just speak to the hand, I'm no longer listening to your crap !"
Greetings
A Belgian
casse-couilles
Before considering punishing Gary for this relatively small crime (that only looks big because it's being bloated by the same people who really have something to hide), let's concentrate on starting to prosecute some of the real bastards.
Supposedly we all want to make this world a better place so why is there no serious investigation concerning the wrongdoings of the bunch of serial killers and perpetrators in Washington D.C.? There's ample proof, so what are we waiting for?
9/11 was an INSIDE JOB! NO DOUBT about that!
More than enough means, multiple motives and almost unlimited opportunity is what makes this so obvious that nobody dares to believe the horror story of reality.
Not convinced? Read the book "Crossing the Rubicon" written by former LAPD detective Michael C. Ruppert. ISBN #0-86571-540-8
But no, really, much better to incriminate a kind harmless enough computer hobbyist and give him a life sentence. That makes sense!
As far as I'm concerned Gary can do 200 hours of community service (IN THE U.K.! ;-)). That in combination with the stress caused by what's hanging over his head now will have been more than enough punisment for him. The ones who really deserve to be hung are the ones currently asking for Gary's head.
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/store/books.shtml#ruby
G J Atkinson
I think Gary has done NASA a big favour,and I,m surprised that they have even admitted that he hacked into their system, because it has only shown their almost un-believeable
security system.
angel rapallo
well all this stuff about aliens and ufo's has grown old and soon we may witness
a full disclousure, so then what? are they gonna put every one in jail?
i say put in jail the idiots who forgot to protect their systems and give Gary a BIG GOLD MEDAL!
yeah!!!!
James Ngo
I would like to say..
By the civil law, Gary may face with 'hacking without authorised permition' only. They(US) can not be able to charge him with 'destroy properties'.
And in fact, Gary had proven that he can access without password (how US security gay was that!). Nasa computer system is public isnt it?
If Alliens and UFOs are exist, I have to say: America has hidden all information. So they can be a strongest kingdomm with extreme technology.
Damn stupid monopoly Ameria.
Natasha
I hadn't heard much about this case until recently, and I can't believe the arrogance of the Yanks. They have been made to look like the incompetent fools that they are, and they want someone to blame. Gary was obviously not the only one wandering around inside their systems. If it was as easy as it appears to have been, I'm surprised school kids weren't doing it for laughs!! I'm not sure about the whole UFO thing, but that is totally beside the point. They screwed up. They were lax about security. Gary showed them up - not by getting in, but by getting complacent and therefore getting caught - and now they want to hurt him for it. If Gary is such a bad bad man, why didn't he actually steal anything? Surely, he could have made a fortune selling US military information around the world.
If the British government allows him to be extradited, we will know exactly how much our so called Leaders care about our human rights.
Matt
There is no way he could have caused the damage the Americans claim he has - I have worked with computers and networks for almost 20 years, and I understand what he was doing. I do it at work almost every day to control our servers!
America is embarrarsed about the whole thing, and want to make an example of him, and, as he said - scare away any others hackers. Crazy! Better put right the mess there security is in - they are not even locking the gate after the horse has bolted, just beating up on the horse!
Kristof
FREE GARY
Sure, he has gained unauthorised access and yes he did snoop around.
However the biggest criminals here at those stupid administrators who don't even set passwords!!!!
I hope they get sued as well!!
They shouldn't sue him but praise him for showing them that HUGE security gap!!
Andy
It's disgraceful the way Gary has been treated. The U.S. have LIED over the "damaged" he has supposedly caused - and why wouldn't they? They keep many other secrets, like the greatest secret in the world. This is a walk in the park for them. Free Gary and let's have justice!