{{Short description|British Finnish activist and hacker}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox person | image = Lauri Love, 2023 (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Love, 2023 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|12|14}} | birth_place = United Kingdom | citizenship = {{Hlist|Finland|United Kingdom}} | other_names = | occupation = {{Plainlist}} * Advisor on computer security systems, Hacker House <small>(as of September 2016)</small><ref name="HMCTS 2016-09-16"/> * Student studying electrical engineering at University of Suffolk <small>(as of September 2016)</small><ref name="HMCTS 2016-09-16"/> {{Endplainlist}} | years_active = | alma_mater = {{Plainlist}} * University of Nottingham <small>(did not graduate)</small> * University of Glasgow <small>(did not graduate)</small> {{Endplainlist}} | known_for = }}
'''Lauri Love''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aʊ|r|i}}; born 14 December 1984, United Kingdom)<ref name="HMCTS 2016-09-16">{{cite web |url=https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/usa-v-love-judgment-1.pdf |title=The Government of the United States of America Requesting Judicial Authority v Lauri Love Requested Person |publisher=Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service |date=16 September 2016 |accessdate=21 October 2016 }}</ref> is a British activist who was previously charged by the United States for his alleged activities with the hacker collective ''Anonymous''. Love's case has been cited as precedent in the Julian Assange extradition proceedings.
== Early life and education == Love is from Stradishall, Suffolk.<ref name="Telegraph 2015-07-16">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11745493/Vicars-son-arrested-over-US-hacking.html |title=Vicar's son arrested over US hacking |first=Nicola |last=Yarley |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=10 June 2016 }}</ref> His parents, Alexander Love, a prison chaplain at HM Prison Highpoint North,<ref name="BBC 2016-06-28">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-36649095 |title=Lauri Love case: Vicar father fears son 'could kill himself' |work=BBC News Online |date=28 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref> and Sirkka-Liisa Love (a Finnish citizen), who also works at the prison, live in Stradishall.<ref name="Express 2013-10-29">{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/439863/Neighbours-shock-at-hacking-charge |title=Neighbours' shock at hacking charge |date=29 October 2013 |work=Daily Express |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gledhill |first=Ruth |title='Our confidence is in God,' says minister father of Brit facing extradition to US |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/our-confidence-is-in-god-says-minister-father-of-brit-facing-extradition-to-us/95631.htm |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=www.christiantoday.com |date=16 September 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alleged British hacker Lauri Love to be sent for trial in US |url=https://news.sky.com/story/alleged-british-hacker-lauri-love-to-be-sent-for-trial-in-us-10580388 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> He has dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and Finland.<ref name="Computer Weekly 2016-06-29">{{cite news |last1=O'Cleirigh |first1=Fiona |last2=Goodwin |first2=Bill |url=http://www.computerweekly.com/news/450299332/Lauri-Love-may-be-faking-mental-illness-claims-lawyer-for-US |title=Lauri Love may be faking mental illness claims lawyer for US |work=Computer Weekly |date=29 June 2016 |accessdate=17 September 2016 }}</ref>
After dropping out of sixth form college and working in a turkey plant, Love applied for a Finnish passport, and then served in the Finnish Army for six months, became a conscientious objector and finished another six months of his obligation in alternative civilian service.<ref name="HMCTS 2016-09-16"/>
After that, he applied at the University of Nottingham in England and dropped out in his second term after a physical and mental collapse, then at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, but dropped out in his second year, again for health reasons.<ref name="Independent 2013-10-28">{{cite web |last=Dutta |first=Kunal |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/british-activist-lauri-love-charged-with-hacking-us-army-database-8909484.html |title=British activist Lauri Love charged with hacking US army database |work=The Independent |date=28 October 2013 |accessdate=10 June 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Glasgow Live 2016-09-16">{{cite news |url=http://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/former-glasgow-university-student-could-11898086 |title=Former Glasgow University student could face decades in US prison after hacking accusations |work=Glasgow Live |date=16 September 2016 |accessdate=17 September 2016 }}</ref> He was part of the 2011 Hetherington House Occupation, a student protest at Glasgow University.<ref name="Scotsman 2013-11-04">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/insight-lauri-love-the-making-of-a-hacker-1-3170765 |title=Lauri Love – the making of a hacker |work=The Scotsman |date=4 November 2013 |accessdate=17 September 2016 }}</ref>
== United States indictment == In January 2013, the website of the United States Sentencing Commission was replaced with a video protesting the treatment of activist Aaron Swartz who had committed suicide days earlier.<ref name=Parkin>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/sep/08/lauri-love-british-hacker-anonymous-extradition-us|title=Keyboard warrior: The British hacker fighting for his life|first=Simon|last=Parkin|work=The Guardian|date=8 September 2017|accessdate=19 December 2019}}</ref> The video claimed that those responsible had obtained secrets from the United States Army, Missile Defense Agency, and NASA but they were only ever released in encrypted form.<ref name="Guardian 2013-10-29">{{Cite web |last=Halliday |first=Josh |title=Briton Lauri Love faces hacking charges in US |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/28/us-briton-hacking-charges-nasa-lauri-love |accessdate=13 May 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name="BBC 2014-02-27">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26376865 |title=Briton Lauri Love faces new US hacking charges |work=BBC News Online |date=27 February 2014 |accessdate=14 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name="FBI 2014-07-24">{{cite web |url=https://www.fbi.gov/washingtondc/press-releases/2014/hacker-charged-with-breaching-multiple-government-computers-and-stealing-thousands-of-employee-and-financial-records |title=Hacker Charged with Breaching Multiple Government Computers and Stealing Thousands of Employee and Financial Records |publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation |date=24 July 2014 |accessdate=18 June 2016 }}</ref><ref name="BBC 2016-06-29">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-36662568 |title=Lauri Love: Hacker claims extradition would 'result in a tragedy' |work=BBC News Online |date=29 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref> The subsequent investigation named Lauri Love in two indictments (2013 in District of New Jersey, 2014 in Southern District of New York and Eastern District of Virginia) for allegedly "breaching thousands of computer systems in the United States and elsewhere – including the computer networks of federal agencies – to steal massive quantities of confidential data".<ref name="USAO-NJ 2013-10-28">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/alleged-hacker-indicted-new-jersey-data-breach-conspiracy-targeting-government-agency |title=Alleged Hacker Indicted In New Jersey For Data Breach Conspiracy Targeting Government Agency Networks |publisher=United States District Court for the District of New Jersey |date=28 October 2013 |accessdate=18 June 2016 }}</ref><ref name="FBI 2014-07-24"/><ref name="USAO-SDNY 2014-02-27">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/uk-computer-hacker-charged-manhattan-federal-court-hacking-federal-reserve-computer |title=U.K. Computer Hacker Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Hacking Into Federal Reserve Computer System |publisher=United States District Court for the Southern District of New York |date=27 February 2014 |accessdate=18 June 2016 }}</ref> The United States made an extradition request.<ref name="BBC 2016-05-10">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-36256852 |title=NCA's bid to get Lauri Love US hack case passwords thrown out |work=BBC News Online |date=10 May 2016 |accessdate=18 June 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Telegraph 2016-06-27">{{cite web |last=McGoogan |first=Cara |title=The full story of Lauri Love's fight against extradition |url=http://s.telegraph.co.uk/graphics/projects/hacker-lauri-love-extradition/index.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-43119355|title=Lauri Love case: US abandons extradition case|work=BBC News Online |date=19 February 2018|accessdate=19 December 2019}}</ref>
Love's attorney in America was Tor Ekeland.<ref name="Ars Technica 2016-03-31">{{cite web |last=Porup |first=J.M. |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/03/uk-cops-tell-suspect-to-hand-over-crypto-keys-in-us-hacking-case/ |title=UK cops tell suspect to hand over crypto keys in US hacking case |work=Ars Technica |date=31 March 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Guardian 2016-06-28">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/28/lauri-love-hacking-trial-extradition-united-states-nasa |title=Hacking suspect could kill himself if extradited to US, court told |first1=Owen |last1=Bowcott |first2=Diane |last2=Taylor |work=The Guardian |date=28 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref>
== National Crime Agency arrest == The National Crime Agency (NCA) arrested Love in October 2013.<ref name="Guardian 2013-10-29"/> In February 2015, BBC News revealed that Love was taking legal action for the return of computers seized by the NCA when he was arrested.<ref name="BBC 2015-02-20">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-31544346 |title=US hacking case: NCA refuses to return Lauri Love's computer|first=Nic |last=Rigby |work=BBC News |date=20 February 2015 |accessdate=10 June 2016 }}</ref>
In May 2016, Judge Nina Tempia of the Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled that Love did not have to tell the NCA what his passwords, or encryption keys, are.<ref name="FT 2016-05-31">{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/4e67a52e-219f-11e6-9d4d-c11776a5124d |title=Reform cyber laws, says UK hacker Lauri Love |first1=Daniel |last1=Thomas |work=Financial Times |date=31 May 2016 |accessdate=18 June 2016 }}</ref>
== Extradition hearing == During Love's two day extradition hearing on 28 and 29 June 2016 at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, his father testified that Lauri Love is autistic and so should not be extradited.<ref name="BBC 2016-06-28"/> Specifically, he testified that his son was not diagnosed autistic until he was an adult serving in the Finnish Army.<ref name="Bury Free Press 2016-06-28"/> Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen, who diagnosed Love as autistic in 2012, testified that Love should not be extradited because of his diagnosed disorders, which also include eczema, psychosis, and depression.<ref name="Telegraph 2016-06-28">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/28/lauri-love/ |title=Autistic man accused of computer hacking could kill himself if extradited, court is warned |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 |last1=Evans |first1=Martin }}</ref><ref name="Computer Weekly 2016-06-29"/> Baron-Cohen stated that Love told him that he would commit suicide if extradited.<ref name="Bury Free Press 2016-06-28"/>
Love, who lived at home with his parents, testified at his extradition hearing on 29 June 2016.<ref name="Telegraph 2016-06-28"/><ref name="Guardian 2016-06-28"/><ref name="Bury Free Press 2016-06-28">{{cite web |url=http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/local/latest-news/alleged-hacker-will-kill-himself-if-he-is-extradited-to-the-us-court-told-1-7453336 |title=Alleged hacker 'will kill himself' if he is extradited to the US, court told |work=Bury Free Press |date=28 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref> He was supported by the Courage Foundation.<ref name="Guardian 2016-06-28"/><ref name="Sky 2016-06-29">{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1719291/alleged-hacker-lauri-loves-suicide-fears |title=Alleged Hacker Lauri Love's Suicide Fears |first=Tom |last=Cheshire |work=Sky News |date=29 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 }}</ref> Love's barrister for this extradition hearing was Ben Cooper of Doughty Street Chambers.<ref name="Guardian 2016-06-28"/><ref name="L'Espresso 2016-05-06">{{cite web |url=http://espresso.repubblica.it/internazionale/2016/05/05/news/lauri-love-un-caso-chiave-per-la-segretezza-delle-nostre-informazioni-1.264402 |title=Lauri Love: un caso chiave per la segretezza delle nostre informazioni |work=L'espresso |date=6 May 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2016 |language=Italian }}</ref> The case was adjourned.<ref name="Ars Technica 2016-06-30">{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Jennifer |title=Lauri Love still doesn't know if he'll be extradited to the US for alleged hacking |url=http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2016/06/lauri-love-us-extradition-hearing/ |work=Ars Technica |date=30 June 2016 |accessdate=1 July 2016 }}</ref>
On 16 September 2016, at Westminster Magistrates' Court, a judge ruled that Love could be extradited to the United States.<ref name="Guardian 2016-09-16">{{cite web |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/sep/16/computer-activist-lauri-love-loses-appeal-against-us-extradition |title=Computer activist Lauri Love loses appeal against US extradition |work=The Guardian |date=16 September 2016 |accessdate=16 September 2016 }}</ref><ref name="BBC 2016-09-16">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-37385201 |title=Alleged hacker Lauri Love to be extradited to US |work=BBC News |date=16 September 2016 |accessdate=16 September 2016 }}</ref> Love's solicitor Karen Todner said that they would appeal,<ref name="Telegraph 2016-09-16">{{cite news |last=McGoogan |first=Cara |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/16/british-hacker-lauri-love-to-be-extradited-to-the-us-for-access/ |title=British hacker Lauri Love to be extradited to the US for 'accessing government computers' |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 September 2016 |accessdate=7 October 2016 }}</ref> and on 5 February 2018, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and Mr Justice Ouseley, at the High Court, upheld his appeal against extradition because his extradition would be "oppressive by reason of his physical and mental condition".<ref name="BBC 2018-02-05">{{cite web |title=Hacking suspect wins extradition appeal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42946540 |work=BBC News Online |accessdate=5 February 2018 |date=5 February 2018 }}</ref>
== Popular culture == In January 2018, it was announced that novelist Frederick Forsyth would publish a novel inspired by the Lauri Love and Gary McKinnon stories.<ref name="Bookseller 2018-01-09">{{cite news |first=Katherine |last=Cowdrey |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/transworld-publish-new-forsyth-novel-autumn-704846 |title=Forsyth to release hacking thriller this autumn |work=The Bookseller |date=9 January 2018 |accessdate=19 April 2018 }}</ref> The novel, ''The Fox'', was released in Autumn 2018.
== Personal life == As of the late 2010s, Love was in a long-term relationship with fashion model Sylvia Mann.{{r|Parkin}}
== See also == * ''Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain''
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Commons category-inline}} {{Authority control}} {{Portal bar|Biography|United Kingdom|Finland|Internet|Law}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Love, Lauri}} Category:1984 births Category:Alumni of the University of Suffolk Category:Anonymous (hacker group) Category:Computer law Category:English people of Finnish descent Category:English people of Scottish descent Category:Finnish people of British descent Category:Finnish people of Scottish descent Category:Living people Category:Hackers Category:People from the Borough of St Edmundsbury Category:People with Asperger syndrome Category:Finnish autistic people Category:English autistic people Category:Alumni of the University of Nottingham