A UK official has ordered the extradition of a British man to the US on charges of hacking government computers belonging to NASA and the Dept of Defense.
Lauri Love, a 31-year-old hacktivist, has been fighting his extradition, but on Monday, Home Secretary Amber Rudd signed the order.
“Mr Love has been charged with various computer hacking offences which included targeting US military and federal government agencies,” the Home Office said in a statement.
The US originally charged Love in 2013 for allegedly stealing confidential data from thousands of government employees, including social security numbers and credit card details. Investigators accused Love and his accomplices of causing millions of dollars in damages.
Love’s defenders, however, claim he breached the US government computers to protest the suicide of activist Aaron Swartz, who at the time was also facing hacking-related charges.
Love fears that he won’t face a fair trial in the US. “I would say my prospects of due process in America are essentially zero,” Love previously said.
But this September, a judge paved the way for Love’s extradition, despite worries that he may attempt to commit suicide. Love has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and has a history of depression.
Although the Home Secretary had the final decision on the matter, she found no conditions to bar Love from being sent to the US.
Three US courts filed extradition requests for Love. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 99 years. However, his legal team has said that Love will seek permission to appeal his extradition to the UK’s High Court.
IDG News Service
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