Ouch. Singapore is a prosperous, clean city-state. It is also known for a strict, no-nonsense approach to law and order. One example: In Singapore, courts often order that criminals be caned. Singapore also has a strict, no-nonsense approach to stealing WiFi signals, as an unlucky teenager has just learned. A 17 year-old high school student who invited himself to someone else's wireless network and was caught in the act, is now facing up to three years in prison. If this were not enough, the youngster is also looking at a fine of more than $6,000 if convicted.
Garyl Tan Jia Luo used his laptop to avail himself of his neighbor's WiFi service; after several complaints to his parents, the neighbor turned Luo over to the police.
For more on the Singapore case
- see Justin Mann's TechSpot report
- this International Herald Tribune story
- and see this story about the Florida case