This week the world lost one of the pioneers of the open internet, Aaron Swartz.

Swartz took his own life last weekend I did not know Him. but I always admired his work. From what I’ve read, his suicide was prompted by his fears of a long prison sentence after a hacking incident at MIT. Aaron had gained access to some papers on a pay for access site at MIT and had made them public. The government.. And MIT (my alma mater) decided to make an example out of the break in and swartz was facing a potential of 35 years in jail.. This little chance that would have actually happened.. But the pressure got to him.I heard one of Swartz’s friends point out the injustice that a kid who hacks computers to make a point that public data should be free and open would face criminal charges, while folks who brought on the collapse of wall street are still free and even invited to white house dinners..

Swartz always believed in an open internet… open access, open source code and open data. He created some of the technology that many of us use every day for sharing open info In fact.. many of you are reading my words now via the RSS (really simple syndication) technology that Aaron developed. He also co founded the site Reddit that many folks use. The thing he was most recently famous for was helping to organize the social media blitz that turned public opinion away from the ill conceived SOPA anti piracy bill last year

He will always be remembered as one of the guys who kept the internet open For everyone.

Rest in peace Aaron The world owes you a great debt.

nite all, nite sam
-me

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/15/tech/web/aaron-swartz-internet/index.html