Charges against Onel de Guzman, the Philippine student suspected
of writing and releasing the Love Bug computer virus, have been
dropped.
The Love Bug virus affected countless computer systems around
the world when it was unleashed in May this year and caused damage
which has been estimated in billions of dollars. In June,
Philippine prosecutors said they had hoped to charge the 24 year
old under the country’s Access Device Regulation Act which covers
illegal use of passwords. At the time of his arrest, de Guzman
admitted that he may have accidentally released the virus, but he
refused to comment on the allegation that he was the author.
The Department of Justice yesterday announced that charges filed
against de Guzman either did not apply to computer hacking, or
there was insufficient evidence to support them.
The country has since introduced anti-hacking laws, but these
cannot be applied retrospectively. It now appears that no criminal
prosecutions will take place in connection with the virus.
