[lbo-talk] Aaron Swartz indicted

shag carpet bomb shag at cleandraws.com
Tue Jul 19 15:58:46 PDT 2011


not that it matters, because I think it's ridiculous they're busting this guy, but he broke into the server room physically. He didn't just illegally access a web site and download article as the bit below suggests. Still think the whole thing's ridiculous. Why didn't this guy just subscribe to jstor or use his alum privs? And why the hell go after someone so hard just for reading academic journal articles?

"In a press release, Ms. Ortiz's office said that Mr. Swartz broke into a restricted area of M.I.T. and entered a computer wiring closet. Mr. Swartz apparently then accessed the M.I.T. computer network and took millions of documents from JSTOR."

At 06:40 PM 7/19/2011, Doug Henwood wrote:
>Friend of LBO and all-around good guy Aaron Swartz indicted. Via nettime:
>
> > Hi! Aaron Swartz Internet activist (and friend) has been arrested for
> > downloading too many journal articles from the Library. Please sign
> > the petition of suport and help to spread the word, Mayo
> >
> > NY Times article:
> http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/reddit-co-founder-charged-with-data-theft/
> >
> > //// Aaron Swartz charged for downloading too many journal articles
> > from the Library ////
> >
> > Shocking news: Moments ago former Demand Progress Executive Director
> > Aaron Swartz was indicted by the US government. As best as we can
> > tell, he is being charged with allegedly downloading too many journal
> > articles from the Web. The government contends that downloading so
> > many journal articles constitutes felony computer hacking and should
> > be punished with time in prison. We disagree.
> >
> > Will you click here to sign our petition of support for Aaron?
> > http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/support_aaron
> >
> > The charges are made all the more senseless by the fact that the
> > alleged victim has settled any claims against Aaron, explained they've
> > suffered no loss or damage, and asked the government not to prosecute.
> >
> > James Jacobs, the Government Documents Librarian at Stanford
> > University -- where Aaron did undergraduate work -- denounced
> > the arrest: "Aaron's prosecution undermines academic inquiry and
> > democratic principles," Jacobs said. "It's incredible that the
> > government would try to lock someone up for allegedly looking up
> > articles at a library."
> >
> > Will you click here to show your support for Aaron?
> > http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/support_aaron
> >
> > Thanks for your support and concern as we help see Aaron through these
> > tough times. We'll keep you updated.
> >
> > -- The Demand Progress team
> >
> > P.S. Please considering forwarding this email to your friends or using
> the links below to alert them to Aaron's predicament.
> >
> > Research Digital Commons Governance: http://www.onlinecreation.info
> >
> > Ph.D European University Institute
> > Postdoctoral Researcher. Institute of Govern and Public Policies.
> Autonomous University of Barcelona.
> > Visiting scholar. Internet Interdisciplinary Institute. Open University
> of Catalonia (UOC).
> > Visiting researcher (2008). School of information. University of
> California, Berkeley.
> > Member Research Committee. Wikimedia Foundation
> >
> > http://www.onlinecreation.info
> > E-mail: mayo.fuster at eui.eu
> > Skype: mayoneti
> > Phone Spanish State: 0034-648877748
>
>
>___________________________________
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