164,000 join fight to block extradition

More than 160,000 people have signed a petition launched by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to block the extradition of a British student to the United States on copyright charges.

Richard O’Dwyer, 24, faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of charges relating to his website, TVShack.net.

About 164,000 people have signed the online petition in just five days.

O’Dwyer’s supporters argue that as the site, which linked to other sites that streamed pirated television programmes, did not host material itself, he should not face any charges and should therefore not be extradited.

Mr Wales, 45, called the interactive-media and animation student “the human face of the battle between the content industry and the interests of the general public”.