[meik]

Maybe he wasn't authorized to access this proxy server. Or using a proxy to browse the web is considered illegal ? After all, in some countries it is forbidden to go in the street and wear a mask (France). Using a proxy can be considered the same :)

Then, sometimes, journalists use terms they shouldn't. Maybe that wasn't a "real" proxy (according to the definition of a proxy), but a simple "bounce" (a hacked box/server somewhere), in which case it is illegal (for example he hacks a-company.com, installs a socks server and tunnels his traffic to this socks server.)