Matthew Keys: Journalist sentenced to two years in prison for giving newspaper log-in details to hackers

The 29-year-old has repeatedly insisted he is innocent

Matthew Keys has been sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly helping Anonymous hack into the Los Angeles Times' website (AP)

A US journalist has been sentenced to two years in prison in California after been convicted of three counts of conspiracy and criminal hacking.

Former Reuters journalist Matthew Keys was accused of giving hacking group Anonymous the log-in details of a former Los Angeles Times employee so they could alter the newspaper’s website.

In December 2010, someone using those credentials made changes to a headline and standfirst on the website which were corrected approximately 40 minutes later.

Fox–affiliated television station KTXL – owned by the same parent company, Tribune Media – had previously fired Mr Keys and the US attorney's office has claimed the hack was in retribution for that, the Guardian reported.

At the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Mr Keys’ lawyers asked the judge not to impose a custodial sentence, while the prosecution said he should be sent to prison for five years.

Imposing a two-year sentence, US District Judge Kimberly Mueller said: "He arrogated to himself the decision to affect the content of a journalistic publication.

"In practical effect, at least with respect to the Los Angeles Times webpage, the effect was relatively modest and did not do much to actually damage the reputation of that publication.

“But the intent was to wreak further damage which could have had further consequences."

The 29-year-old had denied he handed over the log-in details and his lawyers said they would appeal.

Following the verdict, Mr Keys tweeted: “We’re not only going to work to reverse the conviction but try to change this absurd computer law, as best we can.”

In a post on the Medium blogging site before the hearing, he said: “I am innocent, and I did not ask for this fight. Nonetheless, I hope that our combined efforts help bring about positive change to rules and regulations that govern our online conduct."

Speaking generally, he added: “Nobody should face terrorism charges for passing a Netflix username and password. But under today’s law, prosecutors can use their discretion to bring those exact charges against people – including journalists – whenever they see fit.”

Mr Keys himself was convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act which dates back to 1984.

His defence lawyer Jay Leiderman called it “a horse and buggy law in a jet plane society”.

"It doesn't account for the modern Internet, the punishments do not fit the crime," he said.

Mr Keys believes he has been victimised for investigating the work of Anonymous and refusing to co-operate with the FBI when they first contacted him in 2011.

A headline and standfirst were changed on an article on the Los Angeles Times website for 40 minutes before being corrected (Getty Images)

He said he was offered three plea deals but decided to take the case to trial to “because I feel it can have a serious impact on a law that is really broken”, Ars Technica reported.

"I would hope through this experience, there are people who are out there that look at this and go: ‘You know what, this is bull****’," he said.

"It’s bull*** that the government is invoking national security and terrorism laws and they do it all the time, and they’re doing it here. Where’s the bottom?’"

Fellow journalists and Anonymous condemned the sentence on Twitter.

Mr Keys will be allowed to remain on bail until June and his lawyers are hoping to get his incarceration stayed while they pursue the appeal.