Aaron Swartz helped create RSS, a now ubiquitous format, and later became known for his efforts to make many Internet files available free online.
At 14, Mr. Swartz helped create RSS, the nearly ubiquitous tool that allows users to subscribe to online information. He later became an Internet folk hero, pushing to make many Web files free and open to the public. But in July 2011, he was indicted on federal charges of gaining illegal access to JSTOR, a subscription-only service for distributing scientific and literary journals, and downloading 4.8 million articles and documents, nearly the entire library.
What is a ‘Hacktivist’?
Opinion piece in the NYT that mentions Aaron Swartz
What is a ‘Hacktivist’?
Aaron Swartz’ Death Fuels MIT Probe
Aaron Swartz’ Death Fuels MIT Probe
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has launched an internal probe of the events leading up to the suicide of internet activist Aaron Swartz, who was facing federal charges for allegedly hacking into the school’s journal archives.
“It pains me to think that MIT played any role in a series of events that have ended in tragedy,” MIT President L. Rafael Reif said in a statement. “Now is a time for everyone involved to reflect on their actions, and that includes all of us at MIT.”
Full article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/aaron-swartz-death-fuels-mit-probe-white-house/story?id=18210596
Reacting to Aaron Swartz’s Suicide
Reacting to Aaron Swartz’s Suicide
Inside Higher Ed article