The Fall of Data Haven Sealand 210
Fluffeh writes "Ars has a great article about the history of Sealand, a data haven — a place where you can host almost anything, as long as it follows the very bare laws of Sealand Government. Quoting: 'HavenCo's failure — and make no mistake about it, HavenCo did fail — shows how hard it is to get out from under government's thumb. HavenCo built it, but no one came. For a host of reasons, ranging from its physical vulnerability to the fact that The Man doesn't care where you store your data if he can get his hands on you, Sealand was never able to offer the kind of immunity from law that digital rebels sought. And, paradoxically, by seeking to avoid government, HavenCo made itself exquisitely vulnerable (PDF) to one government in particular: Sealand's.'"
Re:Waste of effort (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Failed for practical reasons (Score:4, Informative)
Also anytime the UK government felt like shutting them down they could. The UN won't defend a country it doesn't recognize.
Even easier than that: they could just shut down the Wifi access point, which would be on UK territory... Same weakness than the raspberry pies in the sky, really...
Re:Waste of effort (Score:4, Informative)
Last time they were seen in action was the Falkland Islands wher they had their asses handed to them by a bunch of natives.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York (who was there) and Margaret Thatcher (PM at the time) would beg to differ, for 2 reasons:
1. Argentina had fairly sophisticated military equipment, with very effective missiles and infantry, and were most definitely not 'a bunch of natives'.
2. The UK won and had 1/3 the casualties of Argentina.