The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz
Your Vote:
Be the first to rate.
8.1 IMDB Rating 3,161 Views

The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz

The story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz. From Swartz's help in the development of the basic internet protocol RSS to hi...s co-founding of Reddit, his fingerprints are all over the internet. But it was Swartz's groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing combined with his aggressive approach to information access that ensnared him in a two year legal nightmare. It was a battle that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26. Aaron's story touched a nerve with people far beyond the online communities in which he was a celebrity. This film is a personal story about what we lose when we are tone deaf about technology and its relationship to our civil liberties. Show More

Details

ilm explores the life of Aaron Swartz, a programming genius and activist who played an integral role in shaping the internet as we know it today. Swartz was involved in various projects that revolutionized the digital landscape, such as co-founding the popular website Reddit and contributing to the development of the RSS protocol.

However, it was Swartz's relentless pursuit of social justice and information accessibility that brought him into conflict with the government and led to a two-year legal battle. Swartz faced federal charges for downloading academic articles without permission from the JSTOR database, which he believed should be freely accessible to the public. This legal ordeal took a toll on Swartz's mental health and ultimately led to his tragic suicide at the age of 26.

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz delves into the impact of Swartz's work and the passion that drove him to fight for a more open and democratic internet. It highlights how his story resonated with people across the globe, far beyond the online communities where he was already revered. This documentary serves as a powerful testament to Swartz's legacy and the importance of continuing his fight for information freedom.