Aaron Swartz was more than a programmer; he was a visionary, an activist, and a crusader for digital rights whose contributions fundamentally shaped the internet we know today. His story is powerfully told in the documentary The Internet’s Own Boy, which explores his life, his relentless pursuit of an open internet, and the tragic circumstances that led to his untimely death. His impact can be seen in technologies like RSS (Really Simple Syndication), which allows users to receive updates from websites in real time, and Creative Commons, which provides an innovative legal framework for sharing creative works. These contributions, now pillars of the internet, embodied his belief that knowledge and information should flow freely and without restriction.

Swartz’s commitment to an open, user-friendly internet was driven by a deep moral conviction that access to information should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy or powerful. He believed in the democratising power of the internet, a place where information could be shared without barriers, and where innovation and collaboration could thrive. Unfortunately, his unwavering dedication to this ideal ultimately led to his tragic and untimely death.

One of Swartz’s defining moments came during the fight against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). In 2011, the U.S. government introduced SOPA as a way to crack down on online piracy, but its sweeping measures threatened the very fabric of internet freedom. If passed, the law would have allowed corporations and governments to censor websites and restrict the flow of information, undermining the open nature of the web. Swartz saw this as a direct attack on the values he held dear and took up the cause, rallying a global movement to stop the legislation.

Through his tireless activism, Swartz galvanised millions of people, including technologists, internet users, and civil rights organisations, to oppose SOPA. His efforts culminated in a historic blackout on January 18, 2012, when major websites like Wikipedia, Reddit, and Google either went offline or altered their pages to raise awareness about the dangers of the bill. This massive show of opposition ultimately led to SOPA’s defeat, a victory for internet freedom that remains one of Swartz’s lasting legacies.

He continued to advocate for transparency, equal access to information, and the removal of barriers that kept knowledge behind paywalls. In 2011, he took a bold step that would change his life forever. Swartz used MIT’s computer network to download a vast number of academic papers from JSTOR, a repository of scholarly research that often charges exorbitant fees for access. He believed that research funded by public money should be freely available to everyone, not just those who could afford it. He never released these documents to the public, but his actions caught the attention of the U.S. government.

What followed was a relentless legal assault. Swartz was charged with multiple felonies under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), a law originally intended to combat serious cybercrimes. The charges carried a potential sentence of 35 years in prison and a million-dollar fine. Despite public outcry, including calls for leniency from academics and digital rights activists, the prosecution pressed forward. The pressure and the prospect of a life behind bars took a heavy toll on Swartz’s mental health. On January 11, 2013, at the age of 26, Aaron Swartz took his own life.

Swartz’s death was a profound loss, not just for the tech world but for everyone who values the free exchange of information. It ignited debates about the ethical limits of government prosecution, the role of corporations in controlling access to information, and the broader implications of intellectual property laws in the digital age. Swartz’s case highlighted the disparity between the severity of his punishment and the relatively minor nature of his crime.

In an era where the internet is increasingly commercialised and controlled by a handful of powerful corporations, Swartz’s vision is more relevant than ever. His advocacy serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle to preserve the core values of the web—free expression, privacy, and access to knowledge.

For those who believe in this vision, supporting organisations like the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) is one way to carry Swartz’s work forward. The IFF is at the forefront of defending online freedom, privacy, and innovation in India. Born out of the SaveTheInternet.in movement for net neutrality, the IFF works on a range of issues including free expression, digital privacy, and keeping the internet open for all.