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aaronsw.doc

AARON SWARTZ

The Internet's Own Boy

Aaron Swartz a.k.a. aaronsw (1986–2013) was a brilliant programmer, writer, and activist whose work profoundly shaped the digital world.

He was in the first Y Combinator batch (Summer 2005). He was part of the founding team of Reddit, he developed the RSS web feed format, the technical architecture of Creative Commons, the website framework web.py, the lightweight markup language format Markdown, and created “Open Library” - a project by the Internet Archive.

youtu.be/-OhyBJxg9RA

A fierce advocate for open access to information, Aaron's commitment to making knowledge freely available made him a target. Pursued relentlessly by the U.S. government for his activism, Aaron tragically took his own life at the age of 26, a loss that many view as a consequence of government overreach. His legacy endures as a powerful symbol of the fight for internet freedom.


A note on Aaron's innocence

  1. Aaron accessed MIT's network to download JSTOR files, which was legal. He just used a Python script to download them faster, switching IPs when blocked.
  2. After some cat-and-mouse game between Aaron and JSTOR, JSTOR cuts MIT's access, but Aaron connected directly to the MIT server in an unlocked computer closet.
  3. Authorities caught him on camera after installing surveillance.
  4. Initially charged with 4 felonies, later increased to 13:
    • Wire fraud (2 counts)
    • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act violations (11 counts)
    • Potential penalties up to 35 years in prison, $1 million in fines.
  5. JSTOR dropped the case, but the US government pursued it.
  6. Prosecution claimed intent to distribute files publicly, without evidence.
  7. Charges were based on violating user policies, which some argued was an overly broad interpretation of law.

Source: The Aaron Swartz podcast, an interview with Aaron's lawyer.

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the-plan.doc

THE PLAN

The "what" and "why"

Build a statue of Aaron Swartz

Carved in marble, to be installed in a public park in [UNDISCLOSED], San Francisco

To be unveiled on November 8th 2024

We’re planning to have everything in place for (what would have been) Aaron’s 38th birthday.

RSVP for unveiling ceremony.

Why?

This statue reminds us all that the internet, once a beacon of free expression and open access to information, is under siege. Freedom of speech, privacy, and the right to share knowledge are increasingly threatened by powerful forces seeking to control and censor the digital world.

This statue stands as a symbol of that ongoing fight and a call to action: The internet needs you to defend it and ensure that it remains a space of freedom of speech, open access and innovation for generations to come.

The future of humanity is at stake.

It’s time to build. It’s time to fight.

THE PLAN

The "what" and "why"

Build a statue of Aaron Swartz

Carved in marble, to be installed in a public park in [UNDISCLOSED], San Francisco

To be unveiled on November 8th 2024

We’re planning to have everything in place for (what would have been) Aaron’s 38th birthday.

RSVP for unveiling ceremony.

Why?

This statue reminds us all that the internet, once a beacon of free expression and open access to information, is under siege. Freedom of speech, privacy, and the right to share knowledge are increasingly threatened by powerful forces seeking to control and censor the digital world.

This statue stands as a symbol of that ongoing fight and a call to action: The internet needs you to defend it and ensure that it remains a space of freedom of speech, open access and innovation for generations to come.

The future of humanity is at stake.

It’s time to build. It’s time to fight.