In cyberspace no one can hear you scream…

THE Appeal Court decision that cyber-hacker Lauri Love will not be extradited to stand trial and possibly face a life sentence in the US marks (maybe) the end of a four-year trauma for the 33-year-old cyber genius – or cyber menace depending on your point of view. But the quandary of this is not resolved. What law prevails in cyberspace?

The US authorities may still appeal up to the Supreme Court. British authorities may still put this young man on trial, with a notional sentence of four years still possible. It is alleged he hacked into various American databases, sucking out classified information which infuriated Uncle Sam into a most unavuncular mood.

So whose law prevails in this (to most of us) bizarre non-world? The reason for the Law Lords’ decision last week was that he committed no offence actually in America (where he never went) nor did what he accomplished transgress British common or statute law. With entire wars now being conducted out there, surely the quandary will have to be resolved among the nations of the world or chaos will prevail for ever.

After all, there have been conferences and signed agreements to cover the wildernesses of the oceans, above and below the surface. We think space (where the astronauts travel) is the last true wilderness beyond the law. But cyberspace is even more dangerous.