Gottfrid Svartholm Warg Arrested In Cambodia

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Gottfrid Svartholm Warg Arrested In Cambodia

Posted by timothy on Saturday September 1, 2012 @02:23AM from the hear-the-spiders-are-delicious dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, alias "anakata," was arrested two days ago (Original, Swedish) in Pnohm Pehn, Cambodia and may soon be facing extradition to Sweden (alternate sources: Aftonbladet (Swedish), IDG (Swedish)). He was sentenced to one year in prison for his involvement in The Pirate Bay in 2009 and failed to appear at the prison to serve his sentence. On a related note, the domain freeanakata.se seems to have been registered today although it currently isn't resolving."

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Sweden in general by IamGarageGuy+2 · 2012-09-01 02:31 · Score: 4, Interesting

It appears to me that Sweden is becoming the centre of internet freedom battles. Is this geographical, cultural,legal or just luck of the draw?

--
Stay tuned for new sig...
1. Re:Sweden in general by SquarePixel · 2012-09-01 02:38 · Score: 0, Insightful
  
  It's just because Sweden has always had quite nerdy population. And good internet access. Even girls use internet over there. Sweden was also always treated as safe haven for such things and when the laws changed, it came crashing down.
2. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 02:40 · Score: 0
  
  What goes around comes around.
3. Re:Sweden in general by muon-catalyzed · 2012-09-01 02:44 · Score: 0
  
  This is completely unrelated.. and this guys is obviously panicking, Sweden is very soft even to real criminals, they might be even softer then their neighbor Norway (where a man executed 77 children and only got max of 21 years in a comfy prison cell with a laptop and TV). The prison there is more like a rehab.
4. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 02:49 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  These weren't cases anyone cared about until US money and pressure started telling Swedish authorities to care about them.
5. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:01 · Score: 1
  
  And you forgot the treadmill :D
6. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:05 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, owned by American/Japanese companies
7. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:11 · Score: 0
  
  Coincidence. I don't think Mr. Warg (great name btw) raped anyone. People, try not to rape your groupies, m'kay?
8. Re:Sweden in general by fustakrakich · 2012-09-01 03:12 · Score: 1
  
  Ah, but who else has a "watch list"? Who else has the power to enforce it?
  
  --
  “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
9. Re:Sweden in general by Sqr(twg) · 2012-09-01 03:13 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Breivik was sentenced to cointainment. That means he will only get out if he's deemed to no longer be dangerous to society. Very likely he'll be in prison until he dies.
10. Re:Sweden in general by teg · 2012-09-01 03:13 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  This is completely unrelated.. and this guys is obviously panicking, Sweden is very soft even to real criminals, they might be even softer then their neighbor Norway (where a man executed 77 children and only got max of 21 years in a comfy prison cell with a laptop and TV). The prison there is more like a rehab.
  The 21 year sentence is subject to extension if he is considered a danger to society. He's never going to get out. He might deserve anything, but we like to think we have progressed somewhat.
11. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:13 · Score: 0
  
  Who else has the power to enforce it?
  Any county with a Military.
12. Re:Sweden in general by Teun · 2012-09-01 03:22 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe it's a function of the perceived freedom and independence Sweden was associated with for so many years.
  People were under the impression they were allowed to do things that were harder in other places.
  
  --
  "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
13. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:03 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  t appears to me that Sweden is becoming the centre of internet freedom battles. Is this geographical, cultural,legal or just luck of the draw?
  /---/ another guy accused of rape, leaves the country when his lawyer tells him that he is wanted for questioning, caught in Britain and released on bail, then disappearing into some embassy in breach of his bail conditions, which _does_ make him a criminal in the UK.
  In a similar manner, leaving Sweden (after he had been requested to stay in Sweden by Swedish authorities) made him a criminal in Sweden (aside from being a suspect of rape and creating danger for another (sw: "Framkallande av fara", not sure what it is called in English legalise)). Sweden doesn't have a bail system, Swedish autorities just request criminal suspect to stay within reach (unless they believe the criminal is likely to commit new crimes), if the suspect doesn't accept the terms, he can choose to be put into arrest instead, at longest the time of the imprisonment for the crime he is suspected of have commited (in this case about 2-3 years for the rapes and, possibly, about 2 years for creating danger to another).
  If Julian Assange had played by the (Swedish) rules, he would likely have been a free man within half a year from now. And Swedish authorities wouldn't have stopped him from continue his Wikileaks business during his time of imprisonment.
  Bail systems only limit the movement of suspects with very limited monetary resources, which Assange haven't, he can ask his supporters for money to pay his bails.
  In my opinion, Julian Assange is a paranoid fool (as well as an misogynic asshole). If he had stayed in Sweden, his life would have been a lot less complicated. It is also much more likely that the British authorities turn him over to US, then the Swedish authorities: a) Sweden don't turn over criminal suspects to other countries, if they could be punished by death (however unlikely it is in this case), tortured (likely in this case, by the Swedish legal definition of what constitutes torture), or not receive a fair trail (very likely in this case); b) Wikileaks have done nothing criminal according to Swedish law, on the contrary, media outlets doing the same things as wikileaks have very strong legal protection in Sweden; c) Swedish authorities got really burned in 2001 by a US government that didn’t keep their promises and didn't tell the truth, when they have handed over two "criminal suspects" to US agents (the English language wikipedia article seem to have been slightly censored), making Swedish authorities look very gullible.
  On the other hand, how The Pirate Bay affair was handled by Swedish authorities is not proportional to how Swedish authorities usually handle such cases. At least the Minster of Justice, Thomas Bodströms, personal involvement in the case was against, at least the spirit of, Swedish law, and such involvement from a Swedish Minister in any case have not been known to happen since the 1970's (The Geijer Affair, The IB Affair).
14. Re:Sweden in general by AmiMoJo · 2012-09-01 04:06 · Score: 1
  
  Reform is the goal, and would be the greatest possible victory for society.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
15. Re:Sweden in general by misexistentialist · 2012-09-01 04:08 · Score: 1
  
  Torture and indefinite sentences are actually pretty similar. In both cases they have about the same legal legitimacy as shooting people randomly. Anders Breivik, Knight Templar, Defender of the Faith, and Provisional High Judge and Executioner of the Kingdom of Norway has a nice ring to it. [Uh-oh, I think I just got on the potential bomb-maker watch-list]
16. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:10 · Score: 0
  
  Some people can not be reformed.
17. Re:Sweden in general by sco08y · 2012-09-01 04:17 · Score: 2
  
  This is completely unrelated.. and this guys is obviously panicking, Sweden is very soft even to real criminals, they might be even softer then their neighbor Norway (where a man executed 77 children and only got max of 21 years in a comfy prison cell with a laptop and TV). The prison there is more like a rehab.
  The 21 year sentence is subject to extension if he is considered a danger to society. He's never going to get out. He might deserve anything, but we like to think we have progressed somewhat.
  So you're sentencing him to death by bureaucracy? How is this progress?
18. Re:Sweden in general by jeffasselin · 2012-09-01 04:18 · Score: 2
  
  But you can't know that until you try.
  
  --
  If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
19. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:25 · Score: 0
  
  Freedom and independence? You've never lived in Sweden, have you? It may be egalitarian and free men gud nåde dig if you do something that actually irks the authorities - Sweden is an efficient state and that efficiency can of course be applied to any endeavour.
20. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:27 · Score: 0
  
  If someone kidnaps a little girl, locks her in a basement and tortures her daily for 3 years, that person should have the same thing done to them unless the victim chooses forgiveness. Why would you think otherwise? Because you're squeamish? Because you don't like it? So what. Why do your preferences have any relevance when you're not the victim?
21. Re:Sweden in general by Samantha+Wright · 2012-09-01 04:28 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  We should start a campaign to extradite everyone to Sweden. I think it would be a great protest movement.
  
  --
  Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
22. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:33 · Score: 0
  
  Agree in principle, but who's going to do the torturing? The problem with lex talonis, even if we only applied it to cases that are completely obvious, is that it's unsustainable in our societies.
23. Re:Sweden in general by digitig · 2012-09-01 04:35 · Score: 1
  
  Why would you think that? Because you're vindictive? Because you like it? So what. Why do your preferences have any relevance when you're not the victim?
  
  --
  Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
24. Re:Sweden in general by koolfy · 2012-09-01 04:36 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  another guy accused of rape
  Julian Assange has not been charged of anything by any authority of any kind. He is wanted for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct Source
  
  leaves the country when his lawyer tells him that he is wanted for questioning
  Before leaving the country he consulted with the judge, who decided there was nothing holding him there and he could leave Swedish soil.
  
  caught in Britain
  Not caught, he turned himself to the police after it became clear that the illegal (or at least illegitimate) Interpol red notice was not going away. This, in the hope of resolving the matter.
  
  then disappearing into some embassy
  He did not disappear, he sought asylum. That's quite a difference.
  
  in breach of his bail conditions
  Because it was the only choice he had left to avoid being ultimately handed over to a country where he would be tortured or executed, thus breaching the Geneva Conventions
  
  which _does_ make him a criminal in the UK
  He has not been charged nor convicted of any crime by any government yet, not Sweden, not the USA, not even the UK as far as I can tell. (prove me otherwise)
  
  On the other hand, Augusto Pinochet, charged by Spain for the killing of 3000 Chilean people, and torturing 30 000 more, including the raping of political prisoners with trained dogs, was not only not extradited by the UK but often drank tea with Margaret Tacher
  
  This just goes to show you how much lies we are being fed by governments and medias alike. It's fairly easy to hear officials make the same mistakes as you did.
  Not because they are ignorant. Then know very well the details of this case. They're not stupid. They just choose to deliberately lie.
  
  You can agree or disagree with the importance of what Wikileaks does, and the importance of what Assange and Manning do for our society, but that doesn't make your claims any less WRONG
  
  --
  Segmentation Fault in "Life, Universe and Everything" at line 42. Don't Panic.
25. Re:Sweden in general by sco08y · 2012-09-01 04:42 · Score: 1
  
  In a similar manner, leaving Sweden (after he had been requested to stay in Sweden by Swedish authorities) made him a criminal in Sweden (aside from being a suspect of rape and creating danger for another (sw: "Framkallande av fara", not sure what it is called in English legalise)). Sweden doesn't have a bail system, Swedish autorities just request criminal suspect to stay within reach (unless they believe the criminal is likely to commit new crimes), if the suspect doesn't accept the terms, he can choose to be put into arrest instead, at longest the time of the imprisonment for the crime he is suspected of have commited (in this case about 2-3 years for the rapes and, possibly, about 2 years for creating danger to another).
  If Julian Assange had played by the (Swedish) rules, he would likely have been a free man within half a year from now. And Swedish authorities wouldn't have stopped him from continue his Wikileaks business during his time of imprisonment.
  Bail systems only limit the movement of suspects with very limited monetary resources, which Assange haven't, he can ask his supporters for money to pay his bails.
  In my opinion, Julian Assange is a paranoid fool (as well as an misogynic asshole). If he had stayed in Sweden, his life would have been a lot less complicated.
  Interesting. In fairness to bail systems, they're not intended to restrict movement, they're there to keep honest people from being stupid and not showing up at court. If a judge thinks someone is a flight risk they simply don't get bail.
26. Re:Sweden in general by Trepidity · 2012-09-01 04:49 · Score: 1
  
  Forvaring is more or less equivalent to life in prison with possibility of parole. It's not a particularly hard to understand sentence, and imo it makes sense, since it allows for decisions to be made based on whether someone is still a danger to society or not.
  
  --
  10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
27. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:50 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  In a similar manner, leaving Sweden (after he had been requested to stay in Sweden by Swedish authorities) made him a criminal in Sweden
  That's not what happened though. He stayed for several weeks, said he was going to leave for engagements in the UK, got an ok to leave and left.
  I'm surprised you were able to post all that text, yet hadn't researched even the basics on the topic.
  / an ashamed Swede
28. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:52 · Score: 0
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_A
  Look, I'm not the parent, but some of us are naturally more predisposed towards "eye for an eye". To us, this is the only morality that exists (more or less) because we're evolutionally wired to be this way. As a rational slashdotter I'm sure you can agree with scientific evidence.
29. Re:Sweden in general by gl4ss · 2012-09-01 04:54 · Score: 1
  
  Slashdotters are so ignorant. Why do you think that the U.S. is the only country that cares about enforcing the copyright laws that were passed by its legislature? You understand that other countries have laws, businesses, and music industry groups as well, right?
  sure, but those industry groups again mostly cater for the american record and movie companies interests.
  but, copyright/pirate cases ARE NOT NEW in nordic countries. GETTING JAILTIME FOR THEM IS !.
  you used to be able to get without jailtime even for _stealing_ the bandwidth you ran your warez site on for fucks sake.
  _highly_ selective prosecution is another part of this mess in nordic countries - which should not be the nordic way!
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
30. Re:Sweden in general by MechaStreisand · 2012-09-01 04:56 · Score: 0
  
  Why should someone who does that deserve that chance? Reserve that for people who haven't ruined the lives of others. I hope someone murders you and makes the world a better place.
  
  --
  Disclaimer: IANAL. This post is, however, legal advice, and creates an attorney-client relationship.
31. Re:Sweden in general by Shihar · 2012-09-01 05:11 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Julian Assange has not been charged of anything by any authority of any kind. He is wanted for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct
  I can only assume that you are from Britain or the US (or some nation with a similar system of law) if you think this matters. Sweden's legal system is different. If he was on the run from the US instead of Sweden with the exact same charges and they held the same legal weight, he would have an arrest warrant out and have been charged. The US, Britain, and other similar legal systems charge someone formally and then try and capture them in most cases. The suspect is rarely present when charged. The Swedish system captures them and then charges them. Successfully running when they initiate the "capture and question" part of the Swedish system doesn't mean a get out of jail free card. It is of the same severity and holds similar legal weight to being charged in the US or Britain and having arrest warrant issued. This isn't the voluntary phase where you can talk to the police or not. He is in the "we are going to hold you and question you" phase, and there is a legal warrant to detain him which he has run from, which is why Britain is willing to extradite him.
  Whether or not the charges are legitimate and is this a secret plot by the US to snag him, I'll let other people argue. I'm happy Wikileaks exists regardless of whether or not Assange is a douche bag.
32. Re:Sweden in general by phantomfive · 2012-09-01 05:12 · Score: 1
  
  Reform is the goal, and would be the greatest possible victory for society.
  Why? What victory does society get from reaching that goal?
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
33. Re:Sweden in general by king+neckbeard · 2012-09-01 05:14 · Score: 1
  
  That's a good one.
  
  --
  This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
34. Re:Sweden in general by digitig · 2012-09-01 05:23 · Score: 1
  
  Oh yes, as a rational slashdotter I certainly agree with the evidence that some people believe things should be like that (and that some people don't). But science is of little help in deciding whether things should actually be like that. Both positions seem to have much the same epistemological status as religion. (I wasn't actually stating the contrary position because I necessarily hold it, just to show the flaws in the argument for the original position.)
  
  --
  Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
35. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:28 · Score: 0
  
  Why do you think that the U.S. is the only country that cares about enforcing the copyright laws that were passed by its legislature?
  In this particular case I would say that a contributing factor would be that the request to shut down The Pirate Bay came from The White House
  If you had bothered to read up on the Pirate Bay case you would have known that the Pirate Bay raid would not have happened if it weren't for pressure from the U.S. Slashdotters are so ignorant indeed.
36. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:34 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  c) Swedish authorities got really burned in 2001 by a US government that didn’t keep their promises and didn't tell the truth, when they have handed over two "criminal suspects" to US agents (the English language wikipedia article seem to have been slightly censored), making Swedish authorities look very gullible.
  The only thing we can say for sure is that Sweden now have a history of turning over people to countries where they can be tortured without having any kind of evidence for their alleged crimes. Julian Assange might be paranoid but he also have a reason to be. Obviously neither Sweden nor the U.S. are above breaking their own laws and resorting to torture by proxy.
37. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:38 · Score: 0
  
  Why do your preferences have any relevance when you're not the victim?
  Thanks for restating my point. It's settled I guess? The victim gets to decide retribution or forgiveness. Not you or me.
38. Re:Sweden in general by Kjella · 2012-09-01 05:45 · Score: 1
  
  He might deserve anything, but we like to think we have progressed somewhat.
  More like we're delayed, if the new penalty code that's 12 years delayed due to lack of computer systems to handle it (government bureaucracy, yay) was implemented he'd at least have gotten 30 years for terrorism. They can say what they want about "in practice", but in theory he could be back on the streets in 10 years if he pulls a total reformation.
  
  --
  Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
39. Re:Sweden in general by digitig · 2012-09-01 05:51 · Score: 1
  
  So in the case of murder, no punishment is required because the victim no longer exists to decide retribution or forgiveness. Oh, wait: perhaps the family of the murdered person are also affected? And all of society, by having the killer at large, and by other potential killers knowing that killers go unpunished? Aren't those things true of torture too, and other crimes? Hmm, looks to me as if your approach is too simplistic, and that justice might not simply be a matter of retribution or forgiveness...
  
  --
  Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
40. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:52 · Score: 0
  
  Agree in principle, but who's going to do the torturing?
  Who does the cooking? You can do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you.
41. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:58 · Score: 0
  
  So in the case of murder, no punishment is required because the victim no longer exists to decide retribution or forgiveness.
  The right for retribution is still part of the victim's estate and as such goes to their beneficiaries or to their family, if no family exists, anyone else can claim it. In other words, if you kill a homeless guy without any family, and I made the first claim on his right of retribution, it's mine to do with as I please. Is it perfect? No. But demanding perfection would be a little "too simplistic".
42. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 06:44 · Score: 1
  
  "Whether or not the charges are legitimate and is this a secret plot by the US to snag him, I'll let other people argue."
  I've got you covered there. The rape allegations are by far one of the most obvious bullshit excuses for a man hunt in recent times, right up there with Saddam's WMDs:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAPBbxOw7Jw
43. Re:Sweden in general by jez9999 · 2012-09-01 06:47 · Score: 1
  
  In my opinion, Julian Assange is [...] an misogynic asshole
  What evidence do you base this opinion on?
  
  If Julian Assange had played by the (Swedish) rules, he would likely have been a free man within half a year from now. And Swedish authorities wouldn't have stopped him from continue his Wikileaks business during his time of imprisonment.
  Implying that he would have stayed in Sweden and not been extradited. But then why did the UK government issue a thinly-veiled threat to invade the Ecuadorian embassy, reiterate that threat recently by refusing to rule out the idea of violating diplomatic immunity, and come pretty close to storming the embassy because of heavy US pressure to do so, according to former UK diplomat Craig Murray?
  
  --
  == Jez ==
  Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
44. Re:Sweden in general by jon3k · 2012-09-01 06:57 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Holy shit you let women on the internet????? Does the Internet High Council know about this???????
45. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 07:23 · Score: 0
  
  Strictly speaking, wouldn't you have to turn to religion in order to find an answer to human morality that isn't defined by the workings of humans themselves?
46. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 07:34 · Score: 0
  
  , another guy accused of rape, leaves the country when his lawyer tells him that he is wanted for questioning, caught in Britain and released on bail, then disappearing into some embassy in breach of his bail conditions, which _does_ make him a criminal in the UK.
  Wrong, completely wrong.
  Assange was originally not accused of anything. When the rape charge was brought up, a Swedish prosecutor threw it to the bin as nonsense. Case closed. Assange wanted to know if he's free to leave Sweden. He was told he is free to leave Sweden. Thus Assange left Sweden, and had no trouble getting out of the country either.
  Once Assange left Sweden, another prosecutor in a completely different district suddenly reopened the case and involved the Interpol with it.
  Assange rightfully fears for his life. The hunt for him is politically motivated. They are going to keep Assange out of sight and alive in the Equador embassy until the US elections are over. He's too much of a wildcard. Once the elections are done, USA will step up the pressure.
  If the press and news media did their job, we would not need Julian Assange. Therefore Assange is also a threat to the established press and journalists thereof, and one can observe the vitriol being spewed on Assange. This is especially prevalent in writings by "journalists" who are no more than echo chambers of official government thought.
47. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 08:20 · Score: 0
  
  Ah, you're a good little fascist punk, aren't you ?
  Anyone who has intelligence and has bothered to read the entire set of info
  on Assange knows it is all trumped-up legal bullshit which is a ruse designed to
  get him to a country which is known to have cooperate with the US CIA in
  "extraordinary rendition" ( otherwise known as kidnapping and torture ).
48. Re:Sweden in general by Larryish · 2012-09-01 09:10 · Score: 2
  
  Lord, I sure hope not.
49. Re:Sweden in general by dadioflex · 2012-09-01 09:24 · Score: 1
  
  It appears to me that Sweden is becoming the centre of internet freedom battles. Is this geographical, cultural,legal or just luck of the draw?
  Interesting question, and one that made me question my own national bias. I love the UK because I know no better. Parts of it are great, parts of it are terrible, but overall I can't imagine anyone improving on the mix.
  
  I read your comment and I thought to myself, I bet everyone thinks that. There's always somewhere better, there's always somewhere worse.
  
  Maybe Sweden is it. I don't think the UK is it. I KNOW Ireland isn't it. France isn't it. Germany wants to be it, but it isn't it.
  
  Who IS it? Sweden?
50. Re:Sweden in general by rastoboy29 · 2012-09-01 09:31 · Score: 1
  
  I wonder if it's because, in theory, they have some of the more liberal laws when it comes to internet freedom. After all, my understanding was that what the Pirate Bay was doing was perfectly legal in Sweden...in theory. If I were the U.S. entertainment industry and also a stupid douchebag, I might well target Sweden first for that reason.
  
  --
  expandfairuse.org
51. Re:Sweden in general by Kidbro · 2012-09-01 09:40 · Score: 2
  
  Yes. Because all verdicts are made with 100% accuracy, and no innocent man has ever been sentenced to death.
  
  --
  May we live long and die out
52. Re:Sweden in general by f()rK()_Bomb · 2012-09-01 09:46 · Score: 1
  
  What a ridiculous statement. Girls everywhere use the internet.
  
  --
  "The space elevator will be built about 50 years after everyone stops laughing." - Arthur C. Clarke ~1980
53. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 11:05 · Score: 0
  
  If I were in his shoes (obligatory "I am not"), I would be worried about the amount of interference and bullying demonstrated by the US government. Anyone remember David Hicks? Forget his character, but he was detained in Guantanamo without charge and without trial for a few YEARS. This is the attitude/mindset/values of our western society today. Anyone that gets in the way (Assange/DotCom/Hicks) is character assasinated, publicly humiliated, and railroaded by our combined "western police states" - without any accountability...
  On a separate but similar note, have we managed to find those WMDs yet?
54. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 11:15 · Score: 0
  
  Hmm, he was sentenced to serve a sentence then fled the country. And we're supposed to believe this is just about internet freedoms?
55. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 11:38 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  What a ridiculous statement. Girls everywhere use the internet.
  Wow, I hate to break it to you man...... but that hot 20 year old you've been chatting with is actually an old fat guy living in his moms basement.
56. Re:Sweden in general by sco08y · 2012-09-01 15:50 · Score: 1
  
  All you've really accomplished is you've taken the problem and pushed it behind layers of bureaucracy and declared yourselves civilized. It may look civilized, but a wrongfully convicted person is still basically fucked, except that in your system no one cares any more because they've fooled themselves into believing the problem is solved.
57. Re:Sweden in general by Legion303 · 2012-09-01 16:43 · Score: 1
  
  "[...] the U.S. entertainment industry and also a stupid douchebag [...]"
  -1, Redundant
58. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 18:02 · Score: 1
  
  Which is the biggest problem with the prison system in the US. Nobody gives a shit about anyone but themselves and they won't even try to help their fellow man, whether it be to help a homeless person find work, rehabilitate a drug abuser, reform a criminal or even simply holding a door open for others.
  
  When it comes to criminals, the US media, followed by the public and then the government automatically condemns every criminal without hearing out reasons, potential catalysts or considering reform. They want revenge, not justice.
59. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 18:10 · Score: 0
  
  There is no such thing as morality. There is instinct and behavior that may or may not be socially accepted. Social acceptance is not a measure of right and wrong, it is a measure of popularity and sycophants.
60. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 18:12 · Score: 0
  
  Reform is the goal, and would be the greatest possible victory for society.
  Why? What victory does society get from reaching that goal?
  Where is that '-1 narcissistic moron' mod when you need it?
61. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 18:24 · Score: 1
  
  They get a good human being back and won't have to spend a lot more money on keeping someone behind bars for years where they'll only become a worse criminal when they get out. Society gets the knowledge that they are understanding and civilized, not monsters who are capable of acts that are every bit as bad as the criminal's.
62. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 20:12 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Pinochet was a US puppet, put in place on September 11, 1973. And the 3000 Chileans were killed by US people. (Yeah, they probably conveniently leave that out in US history education.)
63. Re:Sweden in general by VoidCrow · 2012-09-01 21:47 · Score: 1
  
  This meme is retarded, tired and sexist.
64. Re:Sweden in general by Man+Eating+Duck · 2012-09-02 00:51 · Score: 1
  
  They can say what they want about "in practice", but in theory he could be back on the streets in 10 years if he pulls a total reformation.
  Of course you're correct, but I'll try to clarify a little for our foreign friends :)
  What I think satisfies a lot of Norwegians' sense of justice is the knowledge that his punishment will be very emotionally harsh. It also has a high probability of being unlimited in length. For his own safety he will have to be kept in solitude for a *very long* time. There are probably a lot of hardened criminals in the relevant prison who would happily choke him to death with their bare hands. It helps that he was ruled legally sane at the moment of perpetration, although most people consider him batshit crazy he's still deemed responsible for his actions.
  He is not even trying to act recanting. This is going to condemn him in the eyes of the parole board even a great many years from now. In addition he's shown an exceptional ability for deception and extremely long-term clandestine planning and maneuvering, this will also work strongly against him. In the event that he's released a long time from now he would still be in grave personal danger, although personally I believe that it will probably never happen.
  I'm no expert, but I've discussed penal strategy and philosophy extensively with friends who have worked for years as prison guards, one is now a police officer. The Norwegian penal system does not aim for vengeance, only containment and rehabilitation. The containment part is for the safety of society at large. If he's still considered a risk when his current 21 years run out his detention can be extended five years at a time (this is the meaning of "forvaring", or permanent detention). His punishment is, in effect, lack of freedom. The point is not to make his life a living hell.
  While I hesitate to mention capital punishment, it may be of interest to many foreigners in relation to this case. Capital punishment is based on at least a measure of vengeance, or even more cynically viewed, on cost analyses. It simply does not fit in our penal philosophy, or in our society in general. The very few Norwegian outcries that have been made in favour of it "post-Breivik" seems largely to be based on a perceived lack of vengeance in his punishment.
  I really don't want to engage in a discussion of penal systems or capital punishment. I post this in the hope that it could explain the nature of his punishment a little bit.
  
  --
  Are you a grammar Nazi? I'm trying to improve my English; please correct my errors! :)
65. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-02 03:32 · Score: 1
  
  Just as a tip, since you're already on the right track here: Mental retardation is a serious disability much like being blind or confined to a wheelchair. It's not cool to use it for insults or as a synonym for stupidity.
66. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-02 05:08 · Score: 0
  
  I consider Julian an international hero.
  But more on point is is a surprise that Cambodia has any kind of concern for laws in european nations.The current case is a great example. No danger was posed for the people of Canbodia yet public resources were used to arrest and confine the subject. How do those actions, which cost money, benefit the people of Cambodia. Frankly anyone visiting their nation with a bit of money to spend is a godsend to them. And I suspect that if a subject from Cambodia were to hide in Sweden that they would be bright enough to leave the guy there. There is no profit in acquiring convicts at all. A criminal that flees Cambodia actually saves Cambodia money so why in the world would they be a party to exctradition treaties?
67. Re:Sweden in general by rs79 · 2012-09-02 07:10 · Score: 1
  
  If you want some insight into this, focus on the Karl Rove - Carl Bildt connection. Rove thinks he's Swedish and spends a lot ot time there and I'm sure it's just a coincidence Sweden has a pretty right wing government right now.
  
  --
  Need Mercedes parts ?
68. Re:Sweden in general by rs79 · 2012-09-02 07:13 · Score: 1
  
  "as a rational slashdotter "
  a what?
  
  --
  Need Mercedes parts ?
69. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-02 11:13 · Score: 0
  
  (it is Africans with vitiligo who look pink, short haired dyed yellow or bald and are thoroughly confused wuth Swedes; good way to make noise in technology).
70. Re:Sweden in general by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-03 09:34 · Score: 0
  
  And 28 years later to the day , about 3000 US people were killed by 19 people of Middle Eastern decent.
  Coincidence, false flag op, or (divine) retribution....
  You decide...
I'm selling t-shirts to support him by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 02:35 · Score: 0

They have "Free Wang" printed on them, though, as there was a miscommunication with the shirt maker.
1. Re:I'm selling t-shirts to support him by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 02:44 · Score: 1
  
  Both are cocks so either way the t-shirts are still valid.
Echos of assange. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 02:39 · Score: 0

Only this time the guy didn't just piss off goverments. he pissed off the media companies that own the goverments!
For all the countries that are americas bitch. America is the bitch of the media mafia.
He's so screwed. :|
1. Re:Echos of assange. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 02:44 · Score: 0
  
  Other countries are the bitch of the MPAA, etc. without the the USA as a proxy. They don't need the USA's government help.
2. Re:Echos of assange. by kiep · 2012-09-01 02:44 · Score: 0
  
  bankers own the media, bankers own the governments, bankers own the corporations, what is the difference who do you piss off?
Prison for copyright violations by fustakrakich · 2012-09-01 02:45 · Score: 2

Time to shoot back? Or is self defense still frowned upon?

--
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
1. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:07 · Score: 0
  
  In Sweden, self defense is a good way to end up in prison.
2. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:09 · Score: 0
  
  Make that "prison for allegedly facilitating copyright violations". In other words, in Sweden one may be convicted of facilitating a crime that isn't proven to have actually taken place. Also, pointing someone in the direction of another person that may (or may not) be willing to violate copyrights, is a serious crime.
  What's the going rate for a Swedish prosecutor these days? Or does one have to buy a politician to secure a conviction?
3. Re:Prison for copyright violations by mapkinase · 2012-09-01 03:17 · Score: 1
  
  As well as in many "civilized" countries of the West, where law enforcement is more concerned by not harming somebody than by going after people that actually harm other people.
  Law enforcement is a sword, not a butter knife. You don't use sword to spread cream cheese on your slice of chiabata.
  When a criminal is killed during criminal action, you, law enforcement should say, Alhamduli Allah, and wash your hands of any activities against the intended victim of such action.
  
  --
  I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
4. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:48 · Score: 0
  
  Sweden is a Democracy. If they don't like the law change it.
  The U.S. is a Democratic Republic, if you don't like the copyright law change it.
  As far as Americans go, being one, I know they are so lazy they will bitch about something like Copyright for ever and never get off their asses to change it. They won't run for Congress, they won't donate real working hours to support a candidate who will change it, and they won't run for office themselves. We really are a nation of freeloaders.
5. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:52 · Score: 0
  
  They won't run for Congress
  That sounds extremely viable for the average person!
  
  they won't donate real working hours to support a candidate who will change it
  They'll have to get everyone else on board if they want anything changed. Considering how ignorant of technology most people are, that will take a long, long time.
6. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:59 · Score: 0
  
  It's cute that you think the US ever belonged to the people. If voting could really change things, they would have made it illegal by now.
7. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:38 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, no. Sweden actually has very liberal self defense laws. It even has provisions for using too much force than neccesary if it can be assumed that the situation was such that a normal person could be expected not to have self-control.
  
  Now, being caught owning an unlicensed firearm, that's a different matter.
8. Re:Prison for copyright violations by ultranova · 2012-09-01 04:44 · Score: 2
  
  When a criminal is killed during criminal action, you, law enforcement should say, Alhamduli Allah, and wash your hands of any activities against the intended victim of such action.
  
  Frankly, Sweden and Norway seem better places to live than those where people praise their God whenever someone they don't like gets killed and the police "wash their hands" from investigating anything they don't feel like.
  Also, do you really want to draw the attention of the kind of god that would find this sort of praise desirable - or the kind who didn't but just got it anyway?
  
  --
  Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.
9. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:56 · Score: 0
  
  In Sweden, self defense is a good way to end up in prison.
  You're talking about Great Britain here.
10. Re:Prison for copyright violations by fustakrakich · 2012-09-01 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  Sorry, bub. when the majority votes away our rights, alternative methods must be used. Copyright is a privilege, and the majority is protecting the abusers of that privilege.
  
  --
  “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
11. Re:Prison for copyright violations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:42 · Score: 0
  
  Sweden is a Democracy. If they don't like the law change it.
  The U.S. is a Democratic Republic, if you don't like the copyright law change it.
  I think that part of the problem here is that neither the Swedish government nor the U.S. government followed the laws of their own countries in this case. What is the use of changing the law if the government doesn't have to follow it?
12. Re:Prison for copyright violations by fredprado · 2012-09-01 13:58 · Score: 1
  
  That is exactly the point. Apparently you only have to follow the law if you don't have the power to ignore it, as governments in general often do.
Does Ecuador have an embassy in Cambodia? by John+Hasler · 2012-09-01 02:46 · Score: 5, Funny

n/t

--
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
Honeypot by fa2k · 2012-09-01 03:02 · Score: 1

So can we assume that TPB including the new VPN service is a honeypot now?
pointless links by alphatel · 2012-09-01 03:08 · Score: 4, Insightful

On a related note, the domain freeanakata.... seems to have been registered today although it currently isn't resolving."
Linking to a domain that any goon could have registered for profit is somewhere between spammy and stupid.

--
When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
1. Re:pointless links by mikael_j · 2012-09-01 03:32 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  I'm the one who registered the domain. I have no intent on profiting from it, just thought of all the old "Free Kevin" websites when I heard about the arrest and registered the domain. I'm currently gathering URLs to different reports on the arrest and putting them on the site.
  
  --
  Greylisting is to SMTP as NAT is to IPv4
2. Re:pointless links by b4dc0d3r · 2012-09-01 04:43 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  The story doesn't read like AC submitter knew anything about you, which makes it still a bad idea. And your assurances to the contrary, at this point in time I don't know you, nor does it feel any less in the range of spammy to stupid to do so.
  And if you submitted the story anonymously to give an "I don't know anything about this website but it's here in case you're interested later" feel to it, I actually feel dirty replying. Good luck with all of that.
3. Re:pointless links by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 07:35 · Score: 0
  
  Stop being lawful neutral you strange little person or go back to SA. This is Slashdot.
4. Re:pointless links by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 07:49 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, you'll just put ads on it for "server costs". People like you are capitalist scum of the earth.
Re:So the moral of the story is by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:11 · Score: 0

You're right, they should release him immediately.
Next time try Taliban or Al-Shabaab controlled by mapkinase · 2012-09-01 03:11 · Score: 2

Next time try Taliban or Al-Shabaab controlled territory. The rest of the world is bent over to their American overlords.

--
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
1. Re:Next time try Taliban or Al-Shabaab controlled by ducomputergeek · 2012-09-01 08:34 · Score: 1
  
  Actually that just makes it easier to target him with a drone strike. Then the US can say, "We were targeting taliban mid level guy X. Killing one of the founders of the pirate bay, he was just collateral damage."
  
  --
  "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
Failed to Appear by Riddler+Sensei · 2012-09-01 03:14 · Score: 4, Funny

...failed to appear at the prison to serve his sentence.
This bit got me to chuckle.
"You said you were going to beeeeee there!"
1. Re:Failed to Appear by AmiMoJo · 2012-09-01 04:03 · Score: 1
  
  His lawyer produced a medical note stating that he was ill an unable to attend the hearing, but then lost contract and could not produce further notes to say he was unavailable for jail. Presumably if he ever were deported back to Sweden he could start an appeal based on his inability to attend and thus defend himself in court.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
2. Re:Failed to Appear by Shihar · 2012-09-01 05:17 · Score: 2
  
  The charge is stupid, but you kind of have to be a dumb ass to run from 1 year of prison in Sweden. Sweden is not exactly known for their harsh prisons, and a year in jail sounds a lot better than being forever on the run.
3. Re:Failed to Appear by Mathinker · 2012-09-01 06:44 · Score: 2
  
  > and a year in jail sounds a lot better than being forever on the run.
  It's not clear to me that with a $1.1M judgment against him, the Swedish authorities would ever let him leave the country again.
4. Re:Failed to Appear by martin-boundary · 2012-09-01 18:21 · Score: 1
  
  The charge is stupid, but you kind of have to be a dumb ass to run from 1 year of prison in Sweden.
  
  Unless you expect an American RIAA goon to have you extradited to Gitmo just on the day of your release.
Proxy Wars by Pf0tzenpfritz · 2012-09-01 03:19 · Score: 1

We have always not been at war with Sweden.

--
Oh, the beautiful gloss of greality!
I KNEW HE WAS A FUCKIN COMMIE !! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 03:22 · Score: 0

Let's wake up Pol Pot and tell him this guy called his sister a hoe !!
From the cable: by fustakrakich · 2012-09-01 03:24 · Score: 1

1. (SBU) Summary. Embassy Stockholm recommends that Sweden continues to be placed in the Special 301 Initiative, and not be on the Watch List for 2009. We are aware of the differing recommendations of the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) and PhRMA. Post recommendation is based on:...
...The sensitive domestic politics that the GOS needs to manage in order to step up internet piracy enforcement in Sweden....
Sickening.. and more so that no government will stand up and tell the Americans to piss off.
Don't kill the messenger.. On the contrary, they need our assistance.

--
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Can't blame a man for going to cambodia by unix_core · 2012-09-01 03:43 · Score: 0

Can't blame this guy for making sure he lost his virginity _outside_ of the prison ;)
Re:Wouldn't happen in America today if... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 04:14 · Score: 0

Obama isn't doing much to restore our liberties. He is at best, neutral on that subject. His only advantage is that he isn't advocating fucktarded class warfare economic policies that will rapidly destroy America like the conservatives are.
Better english language source by no+bloody+nickname · 2012-09-01 05:19 · Score: 1

http://www.thelocal.se/42952/20120901/ The local is a news source for sweden translated for english speaking audience.
Slashdot... Is it a crime? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:46 · Score: 0

If I make up t-shirts with links to popular torrents, would this be considered illegal?
Re:Wouldn't happen in America today if... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 05:57 · Score: 0

Who gave Joe Biden an account here?
This guy is a pussy and an idiot. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 06:49 · Score: 0

First, let me say that I think sending people to prison for stuff like copyright infringement
is stupid and over the top. But I don't make the rules, and the people who do are sending
people to prison and that is just reality.
And it is ALWAYS better to deal with reality rather than attempt to ignore it.
I've done prison time ( in the US ) .
A year is nothing. As the saying in prison goes : "you can do a year standing on your head".
Swedish prisons are among the very nicest in the world and there is probably no
easier place to do time.
It would have been smarter for the guy to just go ahead and do the time and get it behind
him. Now the authorities are going to make extra efforts to "make an example of him" as
all authorities in every country will do. And so it will escalate from a year to more and worse.
And that is why the guy should have taken his lumps and been done with it instead of absconding.
.
1. Re:This guy is a pussy and an idiot. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 07:12 · Score: 0
  
  You're just rationalizing in order to feel better about your prison experience. He obviously did the correct thing when fleeing the country - remember that he's got a huge debt on his head as well as the prison sentence. When I heard about him fleeing and considered wether I'd have done the same the first thing I thought about was whether a free life in Cambodia would be an improvement over Swedish prisons.
2. Re:This guy is a pussy and an idiot. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 07:49 · Score: 1
  
  You're just rationalizing in order to feel better about your prison experience.
  That is so extremely presumptuous that it is comical. You don't know me, and you have no idea
  what my experience was like. I came out of prison a better person, and though it was a tough experience
  at times I now realize that it probably was good for me, as strange as that might seem. So thanks for your
  idiotic opinion, but I don't "need to feel better" about my experience. I have moved on. By the way, one thing
  you obviously haven't learned yet is that it is unwise to talk shit to people you don't know. Perhaps when you
  grow up you can do that.
  What I know is, if the authorities are going to come after you, and you had a short sentence to
  begin with, it is more intelligent to face the music than to run.
  Unlike you, I am not talking bullshit based on nothing but an uninformed opinion, I speak from experience.
  We see how much good your strategy of running did for the guy from Sweden, don't we. What other subjects
  are you going to pretend to be expert on when in reality you don't know anything about them ?
3. Re:This guy is a pussy and an idiot. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 09:05 · Score: 0
  
  If you where a non-functioning person before prison then admittedly time spent in jail could have helped you. But that does not apply to everyone. And I'm not presuming to speak from a position of expertise since I'd have to be able to calculate the chances of getting caught versus getting away which obviously varies from situation to situation - but neither are you, you're arguing via anecdotal evidence. Unless you can supply more and varied data points from people you met in prison, which would admittedly be interesting.
  As for "talking shit", you really think I'd talk like that to your face? Again, you're overgeneralizing and assuming that everyone else works the same way. And I am grown up, I simply have a different personality.
4. Re:This guy is a pussy and an idiot. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-02 09:55 · Score: 0
  
  So while you were in prison, how many times a day did you get your fudge packed in? How many cocks were you forced to deep throat over that time?
  I'm sure you came out of prison as a changed person, a homosexual, but not necessarily a better person.
At least, I think it was 1. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2012-09-01 08:31 · Score: 1

> Gottfrid Svartholm Warg
Weren't those the blue-green versions of the dogs that bark and when they bark they shoot bees at you in Diablo I?

--
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Sweden wants to be Mini Me by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 08:46 · Score: 0

to the US Dr Evil
It's not that big of a deal... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 12:01 · Score: 0

He's been arrested because he forgot to pack a wife.
I searched the comments for something about this. How am I the first to mention it? Or did everyone else get modded to hell for saying it?
1. Re:It's not that big of a deal... by DL117 · 2012-09-03 01:56 · Score: 1
  
  I made that joke too, no one noticed ):
HHGG by flyingfsck · 2012-09-01 16:40 · Score: 1

It sounds like his mother got his name from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

--
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
Phnom Penh by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 17:05 · Score: 0

Show a little respect and spell it right. This misspelling (in the summary) ain't no typo--it's not knowing how to spell the name and being too damn lazy to look it up.
Re:It's not that big of a deal... all modded down by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-01 20:43 · Score: 0

I guess his fanboys on here can't accept the truth. Still as gay as we believe he is one thing is for sure he won't be a "virgin" when (if) he gets out. Pretty boy white meat will be highly prized. Not that he's pretty but hey when they are seeing him from behind they won't care. The thieving cunt has fucked with lots of other people's property now he's having his own property violated. haha
Spelling by bef · 2012-09-02 01:17 · Score: 1

Phnom Penh
It's a holiday in Cambodia.... by DL117 · 2012-09-02 06:17 · Score: 1

Tough kid, but it's life.