Briton who hacked US military computer not criminal: expert<\/strong> by Staff Writers \nGary McKinnon, 42, faces extradition from Britain to the US where he \nHe says he was looking for evidence of UFOs and insists he was motivated by curiosity.<\/p>\n \nUS authorities allege he gained access to 97 computers belonging to \nBut Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University, a leading \n"It can bring a sort of tunnel vision so that in their pursuit of \n"There are questions about whether he should be imprisoned at all
<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n
\n ![](\"http:\/\/www.spacewar.com\/images\/cybercrime-marker200-bg.jpg\")
US
\nauthorities allege the man gained access to 97 computers belonging to
\nbodies including the army, navy, defence department and NASA.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nLondon (AFP) Jan 15, 2009
<\/span>
\n A British man who hacked into the computer systems
\nof the US military and NASA did so because of his Asperger's Syndrome
\nand not because he is a criminal, a leading expert said Thursday.<\/p>\n
\ncould be jailed for up to 70 years if convicted of sabotaging US
\ndefence systems in 2001 and 2002.<\/p>\n
\nbodies including the army, navy, defence department and NASA.<\/p>\n
\nexpert on Asperger's Syndrome, said what McKinnon did was "the activity
\nof somebody with a disability rather than a criminal activity".<\/p>\n
\ntruth, they are blind to the potential social consequences for them or
\nfor other people," he added of the syndrome, which is characterised by
\ndifficulties in social interaction.<\/p>\n
\nbecause someone with Asperger's Syndrome will find it very difficult to
\ntolerate a prison environment."<\/p>\n