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The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

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Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#61

Post by ddingus »

tedunangst wrote: post #58
ddingus wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was the felony and the limits on his future in politics that drove a lot of it. Some jail time wouldn't have been enough. I think he would have done that. Maybe while in there, bad things might have happened. But, it was obvious to me Schwartz understood code, people, how to organize and advocacy. He wanted to build a body of people and power and do some things. To him, a felony conviction undermines all of that,…

A felony conviction does not appear to have set Robert Morris too far back in life, or prevented him from changing the world.

Yes. It is not the end of the world. And we can see that. Options, Like having it expunged exist too.

That Aaron let it get into his head and could not or would not seek help, nor really understanding so many people would have his back is tragic.

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#62

Post by voteforchange »

tedunangst wrote: post #57
voteforchange wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't realize that. He was accessing student services allocated to him under his enrollment with the university. I won't try to litigate the case here. I see why it might be complicated by that fact. I want to know who called in the secret service/electronic crimes division here? MIT (who's only concern was trespass) or JSTOR who might be able to enforce contract terms on MIT or a EULA on Aaron at best?

Another (rhetorical) question: did they call the secret service before or after they identified who and what was happening?

I don't know about you, but I always call the FBI when I leave my facebook open at the public library: http://www.avclub.com/article/updated-fbi-arrests-man-suspec...

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#63

Post by Zigurd »

afarrell wrote: post #27
zz1 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We should resume who did what: * Massachusetts US Attorney Carmen Ortiz pushed for the prosecution * MIT (can we be more specific?) did nothing to stop the prosecution (to say the least) Please, continue...

Those curious about MIT's role should 1) Read Prof Hal Abelson's report http://swartz-report.mit.edu/ 2) Remember that a prosecutor does not serve the person who reported a crime or prompted an investigation. A prosecutor serves The State http://lawcomic.net/guide/?p=1423

That report is a shameful whitewash

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#64

Post by [deleted] »

afarrell wrote: post #27
zz1 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We should resume who did what: * Massachusetts US Attorney Carmen Ortiz pushed for the prosecution * MIT (can we be more specific?) did nothing to stop the prosecution (to say the least) Please, continue...

Those curious about MIT's role should 1) Read Prof Hal Abelson's report http://swartz-report.mit.edu/ 2) Remember that a prosecutor does not serve the person who reported a crime or prompted an investigation. A prosecutor serves The State http://lawcomic.net/guide/?p=1423

[deleted]

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#65

Post by afarrell »

Zigurd wrote: post #63
afarrell wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those curious about MIT's role should 1) Read Prof Hal Abelson's report http://swartz-report.mit.edu/ 2) Remember that a prosecutor does not serve the person who reported a crime or prompted an investigation. A prosecutor serves The State http://lawcomic.net/guide/?p=1423

That report is a shameful whitewash

Do you have sources to contradict it?

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#66

Post by tedunangst »

voteforchange wrote: post #62
tedunangst wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another (rhetorical) question: did they call the secret service before or after they identified who and what was happening?

I don't know about you, but I always call the FBI when I leave my facebook open at the public library: http://www.avclub.com/article/updated-fbi-arrests-man-suspec...

Totally relevant.

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#67

Post by tzs »

voteforchange wrote: post #62
tedunangst wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another (rhetorical) question: did they call the secret service before or after they identified who and what was happening?

I don't know about you, but I always call the FBI when I leave my facebook open at the public library: http://www.avclub.com/article/updated-fbi-arrests-man-suspec...

What was happening at MIT was hardly equivalent to someone leaving their Facebook page open at the library.

They had some unknown person massively exceeding the limits of what they intended to offer to the public. When they used blocking methods that would stop most people, he evaded them. When they continued trying to stop him, he continued evading.

Then he entered an equipment room off limits to the public, wired equipment into the network, and hid it.

He repeatedly trespassed to check his equipment and was grabbing so much data that to stop him JSTOR cut all of MIT off from JSTOR access for a couple days while they tried to figure out what to do next. So at that point he has disrupted research at MIT and possibly put them in violation of their contract with JSTOR.

MIT is a major research center, and that research includes quite a bit of research funded by and for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Poking that kind of thing tends to get agencies like the Secret Service called in.

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#68

Post by pervycreeper »

s_dev wrote: post #16

"But also, I must admit that I am a little disappointed in Aaron. I understand that depression is a serious disease that can fell any person, however strong. But he chose the path of the activist long ago. And the path of the activist is to fight, for as long and as hard as it takes, to effect change. Aaron had powerful friends, a powerful support network, and a keen sense of moral cause that put him in the right. Th…

Depression clouds one's judgement. "Knowing better" means nothing in that context. The above quote is entirely lacking of empathy, and in understanding of human nature.

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#69

Post by voteforchange »

tzs wrote: post #67
voteforchange wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about you, but I always call the FBI when I leave my facebook open at the public library: http://www.avclub.com/article/updated-fbi-arrests-man-suspec...

What was happening at MIT was hardly equivalent to someone leaving their Facebook page open at the library. They had some unknown person massively exceeding the limits of what they intended to offer to the public. When they used blocking methods that would stop most people, he evaded them. When they continued trying to stop him, he continued evading. Then he entered an equipment room off limits to the public, wired e…

That's a debate worth having.

My opening salvo: The point at which individuals and corporations use of cryptography can be denigrated as, "Making it hard to detect terrorist activity" is the exact point at which it becomes impossible for the individual or the corporation to meaningfully engage with law enforcement. The escalation of the rhetoric surrounding e-crimes blurs and negates our ability not only to judge appropriate penalties, general severity, but also when, how, and to whom to report these crimes.

Its very hard to even tell when and if a crime has been committed.

In such a chaotic environment it is inevitable that money and connections and influence supplant the law.

Re: The internet’s own boy: the story of Aaron Swartz [video]

#70

Post by tedunangst »

voteforchange wrote: post #69
tzs wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What was happening at MIT was hardly equivalent to someone leaving their Facebook page open at the library. They had some unknown person massively exceeding the limits of what they intended to offer to the public. When they used blocking methods that would stop most people, he evaded them. When they continued trying to stop him, he continued evading. Then he entered an equipment room off limits to the public, wired e…

That's a debate worth having. My opening salvo: The point at which individuals and corporations use of cryptography can be denigrated as, "Making it hard to detect terrorist activity" is the exact point at which it becomes impossible for the individual or the corporation to meaningfully engage with law enforcement. The escalation of the rhetoric surrounding e-crimes blurs and negates our ability not only to judge app…

> Its very hard to even tell when and if a crime has been committed.

So what's your suggestion? Ignore the intrusion until it goes away?

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