Posts Tagged ‘Aaron Swartz’

Revising the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in the Wake of Aaron Swartz’s Death

Friday, February 15th, 2013

Headshot of Rep. Zoe Lofgren

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.)

Movements are afoot to revise the law that was being used to prosecute good-guy hacker Aaron Swartz, who committed suicide last month under the threat of decades in jail.

It’s a crazy world when violating a website’s terms of service can potentially subject you to more prison time than murdering someone. But that’s what the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, in its current form, allows.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Democrat from Silicon Valley, sought comment on Reddit on her plan to introduce Aaron’s Law. She has now posted a revised draft of the bill [pdf].

TechCruch has some news on how the proposal is developing.

The most illuminating piece on the Aaron Swartz case and federal prosecutors’ overreaching is by Jennifer Granick, Aaron’s friend and a former federal defender. It’s broken into two parts. I really can’t recommend Jennifer’s post enough – it’s the best blogging I’ve read in many months.

Related:

Blog Law Blog: Aaron Swartz, Champion of Online Freedom, Dead at 26

PrawfsBlawg: JSTOR: What is it Good For?

Andrew F. Sellars, Citizen Media Law Project: The Impact of “Aaron’s Law” on Aaron Swartz’s Case

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Posted in contracts / terms of use, criminal law, events/upcoming/conferences/calendar, legislation and regulation | Comments Off

Aaron Swartz, Champion of Online Freedom, Dead at 26

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

Aaron Swartz, a computer programmer who helped create RSS – the open blog syndication standard – and who helped launch Reddit, took his own life on Friday.

His funeral is today in Highland Park, Illinois.

Swartz was facing the prospect of a very long time in prison because of his alleged attempt to download the JSTOR academic archive database, ostensibly to make it available for free.

Swartz was very much a good guy. His prosecution is an example of what happens when the justice system loses its moral compass. He will be very much missed.

A memorial website has been set up.

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Posted in copyright, criminal law | Comments Off