this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2023
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The 18-year-old Lapsus$ hacker who played a critical role in leaking Grand Theft Auto VI footage has been sentenced to life inside a hospital prison, according to a report from the BBC. A British judge ruled on Thursday that Arion Kurtaj is a high risk to the public because he still wants to commit cybercrimes.

In August, a London jury found that Kurtaj carried out cyberattacks against GTA VI developer Rockstar Games and other companies, including Uber and Nvidia. However, since Kurtaj has autism and was deemed unfit to stand trial, the jury was asked to determine whether he committed the acts in question, not whether he did so with criminal intent.

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[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world 202 points 10 months ago (15 children)

Life for this seems absolutely insane.

[–] djsoren19@yiffit.net 58 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I don't think the kid will actually serve it out in prison though. The primary issue here seems to be that the kid is actively saying they will commit more crimes. No matter the crime, you can't really give a light sentence to someone telling you, in a court of law, that they will do it again.

The ideal would be that they rehabilitate him until he's able to be safely released with no fear of repeat offense, or at the very least, until the kid is smart enough to lie.

[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world 31 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (13 children)

It's not prison, it's some sort of prison hospital. But still, life is the exact opposite end of the spectrum compared to a light sentence. Like you said, rehabilitation should be the goal, and imposing life sentences on 18 year olds is not how you make that happen.

He only got a life sentence because he made corporations look bad IMO. Not because of him saying he'd do it again.

[–] admiralteal@kbin.social 36 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (5 children)

I mean, he didn't even get a life sentence. That's in the headline, I know, but it's just not true.

He's in the hospital indefinitely, not sentenced to life. There's a big fat or clause that completely undermines the "life sentence".

He’s required to stay in the hospital prison for life unless doctors determine that he’s no longer a danger.

I'm not really sure what anyone thinks WOULD be just and proper in this kind of situation. I don't know many details of this particular case, but if there has been due process that determines someone is unsafe to release into society because they lack social capacity, releasing them anyway hardly seems like justice.

I'd like to believe -- though I know it basically isn't true -- that the justice system exists for the sake of justice. That it is primarily concerned with making whole the victims and making sure the criminals are rehabilitated such that they can safely rejoin society and even contribute to it in the future. I think that's how the justice system should work in a fair and just world. But if you have someone who is actually incapable of rejoining society, what are you supposed to do?

If we want to focus on the awfulness of this situation, I don't think the sentence is the issue. I think the focus would need to be on whether or not the hospital treatment has any chance of being effective -- because if it doesn't, THAT'S the story that matters.

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[–] chitak166@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago (8 children)

No matter the crime, you can’t really give a light sentence to someone telling you, in a court of law, that they will do it again.

Dude's unfit to stand trial.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

He's unfit to stand trial, but he's not unfit enough to continue to commit the crimes he's been committing.

Again, just because nobody else seems to be bringing it up, *he was already out on bail for cybercrimes when he hacked Rockstar. *

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[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Let's also remember he hacked Rockstar while out on bail for hacking other companies. He was already given a chance, and he committed another fucking crime.

[–] ExcursionInversion@lemmy.world 20 points 10 months ago (5 children)

During Thursday’s hearing, the court heard Kurtaj “had been violent while in custody with dozens of reports of injury or property damage,” the BBC reports. A mental health assessment also found that Kurtaj “continued to express the intent to return to cybercrime as soon as possible.” He’s required to stay in the hospital prison for life unless doctors determine that he’s no longer a danger.

Sounds like dude has some stuff to work out mentally

[–] Caradoc879@lemmy.world 32 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (27 children)

He has autism. It affects the brain in very specific ways for each individual, but in general Executive function is the first thing to go when in stressful situations. You know, emotional regulation and self control? And I also guarantee that the cops and guards were treating him like shit. They LOVE picking on disabled people. I have no doubt most of the charges and incidents were exacerbated by the people in charge.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago

The dude committed crimes while on bail. Autism doesn't excuse that, and even if it did, it's still a problem that needs to be dealt with.

A mental health assessment used as part of the sentencing hearing said he "continued to express the intent to return to cyber-crime as soon as possible. He is highly motivated."

The jury was told that while he was on bail for hacking Nvidia and BT/EE and in police protection at a Travelodge hotel, he continued hacking and carried out his most infamous hack.

Despite having his laptop confiscated, Kurtaj managed to breach Rockstar, the company behind GTA, using an Amazon Firestick, his hotel TV and a mobile phone.

Nothing is being trumped up, here. The kid is just brazen about this.

[–] Cold_Brew_Enema@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

Ah so he's a Lemmy user.

[–] ExcursionInversion@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I get that, have it as well. Been arrested for it as well.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

This kid wasn't arrested for having autism. It was for brazenly commiting crimes, and even when he was released on bail, he committed even more crimes in police protection.

The jury was told that while he was on bail for hacking Nvidia and BT/EE and in police protection at a Travelodge hotel, he continued hacking and carried out his most infamous hack.

Despite having his laptop confiscated, Kurtaj managed to breach Rockstar, the company behind GTA, using an Amazon Firestick, his hotel TV and a mobile phone.

This is not some poor autistic kid that's getting picked on by cops, he's a highly capable hacker expressing a explicit intent to continue to break the law and cause harm to both individuals and corporations.

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[–] GlitzyArmrest@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Well, sure, but does that mean he should get a life sentence?

[–] ExcursionInversion@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No. But you also can't say I'm going to go straight back to commitmenting the exact same crime asap

A mental health assessment also found that Kurtaj "continued to express the intent to return to cybercrime as soon as possible."

[–] kick_out_the_jams@kbin.social 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Although he stayed at a hotel under police protection during this time, Kurtaj still managed to carry out an attack on Rockstar Games by using the room’s included Amazon Fire Stick and a “newly purchased smart phone, keyboard and mouse,” according to a separate BBC report. Kurtaj was arrested for the final time following the incident.

He already did it again, didn't realize this was the one who did it again while on bail.

[–] FaceDeer@kbin.social 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (17 children)

He’s required to stay in the hospital prison for life unless doctors determine that he’s no longer a danger.

These sorts of sentences aren't really "life", they're "life until you're cured."

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[–] AnonTwo@kbin.social 6 points 10 months ago

Your wording is wrong. It's a medical life sentence. It would be cleared immediately on doctor approval.

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[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If he's unfit for trial doesn't he wait until he can? That is beyond unjust on every which side unless he is that level of fucked up. What is life like in an NCR-type deal hospital for life?

Is it like a decent group home or where is he being sent to exactly?

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[–] Tedesche@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

You might try reading the article you posted then, because it says very plainly:

He’s required to stay in the hospital prison for life unless doctors determine that he’s no longer a danger.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

A danger of commiting cyber crimes. You forgot that part. This could be solved with a probation officer and a restriction on technology use. Instead, he's in a mental hospital. This is ridiculous and a way to weaponize his disability as a warning to others.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Considering he hacked Rockstar because they put him in a hotel room with a land line phone and an Amazon Firestick while in custody for hacking, I'd say he has a serious mental issue here.

[–] Guntrigger@feddit.ch 10 points 10 months ago

Yeah he's a fucking genius.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I think whoever left him alone with an Internet connection has the serious mental issue.

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[–] Woht24@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Yes.. It's the same sentence criminally insane murderers get.

People pleading insanity and thinking 'they get away with it', has always made me laugh. You might get probation in 20 years but in an asylum, you have no sentence it's just a matter of if the doctors ever agree to release you.

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