Weev, Part 2
Summary
This episode examines the legal battle of hacker Andrew Orenheimer, known as Weave, who was convicted for breaching AT&T servers. His defense attorney, Tor Ekeland, successfully appealed the conviction on venue grounds, though the court never addressed the broader Computer Fraud and Abuse Act arguments. The story highlights the tension between security research and criminal law, noting that while Weave’s conviction was vacated, his history of neo-Nazi trolling and subsequent exile underscores the complex legacy of his case.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Weave's conviction and his claim of digital activism
Weave's reputation as a troll and the Amazon censorship hoax
Weave's extremist views and DOJ's motivation to prosecute
Aaron Schwartz's death and EFF's involvement in the appeal
Legal arguments on unauthorized access and Weave's prison behavior
The appeal strategy: CFAA definitions and user-agent impersonation
The venue issue: Forum shopping and constitutional rights
Tor's defense of venue importance and the court's agreement
The verdict: Conviction vacated and Weave's immediate release
Weave's post-release trolling and flight from the US
Impact on CFAA reform and subsequent legal rulings
Tor Ekelund's career changes and critique of the legal system
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