Aaron Swartz

In Kevin Poulsen’s article, “Aaron Swartz, Coder and Activist, Dead at 26” (2013), he stresses that Aaron Swartz was an invaluable member of the technological community, who’s suicide was both untimely and caused by the government’s overzealous pursuit of criminal charges against him.  Poulsen supports his claims about Swartz with quotes from interviews with family members, close friends, and co-workers and then dives right into accusations made by several different entities including, JSTOR and MIT.  The purpose of his article is to demonstrate how the world has lost a great mind and a “half-century” of knowledge with the death of Aaron Swartz and that while he was openly depressed, the predominant factor in his untimely suicide was the government’s harsh charges being brought against him.  Poulsen’s audience appears to be a younger, more technological generation, along with anyone who shared Aaron’s beliefs in a freer internet and “a more democratic, open, and accountable political system”.