British Super-Hacker With Asperger’s Will Be Extradited To US

A Briton (British citizen) and alleged hacker accused of breaking into the computer systems of the armed forces and the US government systems simply to steal confidential data and information, should be extradited to the United States, a judge ruled on Friday.

British Super-Hacker With Asperger’s Will Be Extradited To US

After two months of waiting, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court has released its final judgment. Lauri Love, accused of having illegally accessed the US government computer systems and the US military systems.

Judge, Nina Tempia said that Lauri Love, 31, faces “extremely serious charges” and his extradition would not be disproportional. In the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the judge, Nina Tempia said that “I am satisfied that the extradition of Mr. Lauri Love is compatible with their human rights”.

The judge, Nina Tempia also said that Lauri Love, who has Asperger syndrome, “suffers physical and mental problems”, but ruled that the US criminal justice system is able to meet his needs.

The US Prosecutors claim that Mr. Lauri Love was allegedly involved in “#OpLastResort” it is an online rally which is linked with the Anonymous hacking group regarding the murder and premature death of activist Aaron Swartz, who actually committed suicide in the year 2013 under the federal charges for data piracy.

But, Nina Tempia sent the case of the Lauri Love to the Secretary of the Interior Amber Rudd, who makes the final decisions on extraditions. As the Mr. Lauri Love has only 14 days to appeal the ruling to the Superior Court and remains on bail.

US prosecutors say that 31-year-old Mr. Lauri Love, got into the computer systems of the US Army, NASA, FBI, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Environmental Protection Agencies, the US Missile Defence Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during 2012 and 2013, to steal confidential data and information which may be extradited to the United States.

However, Lauri Love’s lawyers say that besides Asperger has asthma and eczema and would be at risk of suicide if he is imprisoned in the United States. It means that Lauri Love’s lawyer, Tor Ekeland, says that Love should not be sent overseas due to his illness, while the US prosecutors believe that the young man Mr. Lauri Love is using his mental health problems as an excuse to evade trial.

Nina Tempia said in her decision that “I accept that Mr. Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues, but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate … are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the U.S. authorities”.

Furthermore, a mother of an another British hacker known as Gary McKinnon, who was also accused in the year 2002 for hacking into the Pentagon and NASA computer systems who also avoided extradition to the US on basis of mental health issues. Hence, Mr. Lauri Love would have hardly 14 days to file an appeal in the High Court for permission to challenge both the judge as well as the home secretary’s decision.