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The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

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Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#2
I wasn't aware the closet was unlocked. And apparently used by a homeless guy to store his stuff. So, even the bare minimum real crime that I thought he was guilty of (Breaking into a closet) which is a crime serviceable by community service in this context - turns out not to have occurred.

I've been sad all morning. Reading this article just makes me angry.

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#3

I wasn't aware the closet was unlocked. And apparently used by a homeless guy to store his stuff. So, even the bare minimum real crime that I thought he was guilty of (Breaking into a closet) which is a crime serviceable by community service in this context - turns out not to have occurred. I've been sad all morning. Reading this article just makes me angry.

Not only that but the actual trespassing charge was dropped. So it wasn't even part of the case!

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#4

I wasn't aware the closet was unlocked. And apparently used by a homeless guy to store his stuff. So, even the bare minimum real crime that I thought he was guilty of (Breaking into a closet) which is a crime serviceable by community service in this context - turns out not to have occurred. I've been sad all morning. Reading this article just makes me angry.

[deleted]

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#5

I wasn't aware the closet was unlocked. And apparently used by a homeless guy to store his stuff. So, even the bare minimum real crime that I thought he was guilty of (Breaking into a closet) which is a crime serviceable by community service in this context - turns out not to have occurred. I've been sad all morning. Reading this article just makes me angry.

Not only that but the actual trespassing charge was dropped. So it wasn't even part of the case!

I didn't even realize that. The most salacious and unsympathetic of the allegations is how Swartz got physical access...othherwise, how different is what he did than what people who go to Starbucks and torrent illegally? Just magnitude?

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#6

I wasn't aware the closet was unlocked. And apparently used by a homeless guy to store his stuff. So, even the bare minimum real crime that I thought he was guilty of (Breaking into a closet) which is a crime serviceable by community service in this context - turns out not to have occurred. I've been sad all morning. Reading this article just makes me angry.

Not only that but the actual trespassing charge was dropped. So it wasn't even part of the case!

"...an unlocked closet on an open campus, one which was also used to store personal effects by a homeless man."

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only that but the actual trespassing charge was dropped. So it wasn't even part of the case!

I didn't even realize that. The most salacious and unsympathetic of the allegations is how Swartz got physical access...othherwise, how different is what he did than what people who go to Starbucks and torrent illegally? Just magnitude?

It's that the U.S. got their asses handed to them in a previous case involving PACER, and were out for blood.

Sadly, that's what they got.

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#8
Of all the great stories and memories on Aaron that have been shared all day today, I believe this story is the one that the general public should really read. Until yesterday, most Aaron vs USA stories had a negative angle on Aaron, and this one really shines a light on the ridiculous witch-hunt lead by the US Attorney.

Re: The Truth About Aaron Swartz's "Crime"

#9
It's even lower than what I expected. I remember having read one time there was allegedly a copied cookie involved (which already wasn't what I would call a hack), but it seems that's not even the case. I'm astonished how such a small offense could bring such huge charges.
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