from Hacker News

Petition to stop extradition of UK hacker

by sparknlaunch on 6/25/12, 8:50 AM with 52 comments

• by smutticus on 6/25/12, 11:51 AM

  If I host content in the United States that is illegal in Iran does that mean I can be extradited to Iran to face charges?

  I hope this kid fights this tooth and nail with good lawyers. He needs good representation as this case has potential to set very important precedents surrounding basic issues of sovereignty and jurisdictional precedence.

  Is the US government going to argue that physical location is irrelevant on the internet? Does a crime committed on the internet happen simultaneously in every country? I'm really curious how the US government will present their arguments in this case. And equally curious how much the UK is willing to lose its right of sovereignty.

• by duiker101 on 6/25/12, 10:05 AM

  This is literally unbelievable. I was shocked when the US attacked Kim Dotcom, but you know... he is a big fish and anyway i hope he will be able to fight back. But this is gone too much further. They are trying to rule the world in this way. This people gained too much power. I am really frightened for our future.

• by citricsquid on 6/25/12, 12:02 PM

  I'm signing the petition because I don't believe he should be extradited, however it's quite clear that he broke the law and was profiting from his crimes. I hope this petition is only against extradition and he will still be charged here in the UK.

• by benhalllondon on 6/25/12, 10:14 AM

  Just one fact/opinion to add that is always missed out on the petitions etc:

  "The case was brought by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which claims that the TVShack.net website earned more than $230,000 (£147,000) in advertising revenue before US authorities obtained a warrant and seized the domain name in June 2010."

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-1826680...

  The guy was earning heaps of money.

• by ColinWright on 6/25/12, 9:11 AM

  Interview with Richard O'Dwyer here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4155627

  Jimmy Wales supports the case: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4155689

• by veeti on 6/25/12, 1:28 PM

  So why does this petition need my street address, postal code and country?

• by Zenst on 6/25/12, 1:11 PM

  Why is a USA person (Mr Wales) petitioning a UK goverment about a action that is instigated and being carried out by a USA goverment.

  THIS makes no sence. It is like complaining to my local GP about starving children in africa!

  If you think it is wrong about him being extradited then take it up with those extraditing him and those who have brought these actions into being. Shout all you like to the UK goverment but all they can do is point at the USA and go talk to the hand, sadly.

  So personaly I see this is a futil petition that is because it is targeted at the wrong people.

• by dancesdrunk on 6/25/12, 12:40 PM

  Off topic but how is it more beneficial to add your name to the change.org petition vs the e-petition service offered by the White House (https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions) / Her Majesty's Government (http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/)? From what I understand the "official" ones at least guarantee your petition to be discussed by those in power once a certain threshold is crossed.

• by usablebytes on 6/25/12, 1:46 PM

  This is sad. He may be guilty or may not be because of his act. But him being extradited to US is definitely not making sense.

• by Zenst on 6/25/12, 10:24 AM

  This approach has been tried in the past and been ignored sadly.

  How about the approach of:

  Whoever runs the DNS aided and abeted the alledged crime. Google is just as guilty by this precedence being set.

  Sure there are many other overlooked angles, but given the facts i'd say the media industry needs a dressing down and told they are not the law.