McKinnon extradition backlash underway

The UK government is facing growing criticism over its decision to hand British hacker Gary McKinnon over to the US for trial.

silicon.com readers have added their backing to calls for a rethink on the controversial extradition granted last week by Home Secretary John Reid. A poll run on silicon.com revealed overwhelming support for McKinnon in his attempts to be tried in the UK over fears he will not get a fair trial in the US.

In total, 65.5 per cent of respondents, of more than 500 polled, said McKinnon should not face extradition to the US and should instead stand trial in the UK and also serve any sentence in the UK as well.

One American reader expressed similar concerns to those aired by McKinnon himself.

Posting a reader comment on silicon.com, John Chapman wrote: "As an American living in the UK I think McKinnon should be tried in the UK. There is little doubt he will be made an example of and will be given a disproportionate sentence in the US. As to whether he will receive a fair trial, demonstrably many of America's own citizens haven't. Why would it be any different for a British hacker who embarrassed the US military?"

Sebastian Phillips, an IT manager from Wigan, wrote: "McKinnon did wrong and should be tried but I think the trial should take place in a British court. He will not get a fair trial in the US."

But not everybody was so sympathetic to McKinnon's plight however and the 33.5 per cent who believe McKinnon should stand trial in the US have been very vocal.

One reader, posting from London, wrote: "Of course he should be extradited. He broke the law by hacking into several sensitive US military sites. Everyone knows how touchy the Americans are about this at the moment. Did he really think that he would just get a slap on the wrist!! Why shouldn't they want to prosecute him in their country for breaking their laws."

And a number of readers in the US also said their government should be allowed to handle McKinnon as they see fit.

Kevin Soss from Chicago, wrote: "It's a shame that the apparent 'altar boy' nature of the violator has the masses overlooking the nature of the crime."

Another reader, posting from the US, added: "Hackers are criminals and should be treated as such."

While another wrote: "The law is the law. If the law is wrong, change it... but otherwise enforce it."