Doesn't the U.S. Have Enough to Worry About Without Richard O'Dwyer?

(Posted on 14/10/12)

Last week, it was announced a computer science student had been cleared for extradition to the U.S. Richard O'Dwyer is facing online piracy charges over links to various online television shows he provided. Actually, it's more about the fact earned money from advertisers who put their ads on his site and less about the links. Tit for tat, says the U.S. and it wants him to face legal charges in America. The question is why?

The U.S. has a rather full plate:
--The controversial and ethically-challenged presidential race
--The ongoing lawsuits against the country's "big 5 banks" - including charges of money laundering
--The ongoing denial of service attacks that are hitting those banks on a daily basis
--A deadly meningitis outbreak
--An economy that's yet to recover, despite the assurances of the country's leaders that it's on the mend.

It doesn't seem as though this would be a priority, especially considering the amount of time and money that's being spent in legal fees, extradition hearings and the actual costs of having O'Dwyer sent to the U.S.

Then there are those already in the U.S. who have done far worse, yet are not in the crosshairs of any law enforcement agency, including Michael Brutsch, better known as Violentacrez. Brutsch is what's known as an internet troll. His online presence on the popular social networking site, Reddit, has recently come under fire, yet there are no legal repercussions for his actions.

Brutsch is brutally offensive and strangely is a massive hit on Reddit. Even the administrators of the site knew he was a money maker; he had hundreds of thousands of hits on his "subreddits", which are pages within the network. It's what he published in these subreddits that have many wondering why law enforcement hasn't gotten involved. A few of his favorite topics include racism, porn and incest. It's his Jailbait page that's causing so many problems (yet still, none of those problems include criminal repercussions). It was created to draw people to countless images of under-aged girls who are at their most vulnerable. To suggest this subreddit attracted sexual predators is an understatement. And still, no help from law enforcement.

Brutsch is hiding behind free speech. O'Dwyer doesn't have that luxury. Not only that, but his actions are not illegal in the UK, where he lives. O'Dwyer and Brutsch are as different as night and day - and yet, in what feels like a strange culmination of facts, O'Dwyer could face years in prison in a country he does not (and has never) resided in while another with far worse accusations is at home with his family today.

So:

A Texas man provides the most disgusting and in many instances illegal photographs, conversations and links that prove just how devastating human nature is, and with each new post, exploits young girls. He's making money for the Reddit site and to date, will never be charged.

Meanwhile, O'Dwyer set up his own website, provided links to various third party sites where a visitor could click in order to see their favorite show. He tosses a few ads on the site to offset his expenses, and he's looking at jail time and fines. And he's one step closer to his American fate.

Indeed - the United States has enough on its plate. It overreached with this case and now, this young man's life could be drastically altered forever. His solicitors in the UK continue to search for solutions that won't include a flight to the U.S.