Oil CEOs pay fines for bringing about a global climate catastrophe. Fascist politicians are given slaps on the wrist for an attempted coup d’etat. Government officials openly commit gross violations of privacy and suffer no consequences.
But a guy hacks a university network and downloads a hoard of scientific articles that should have been freely accessible to begin with and he gets 35 years in prison. I’ll admit I wasn’t familiar with this case before I saw this picture. Which is kind of insane in and of itself.
That’s not exactly what happened.
Aaron committed suicide before his case went to trial, and so he was never convicted let alone sentenced. 35 years was never even likely; had it gone to trial there’s every reason to think he’d have been acquitted outright, or at worst given a slap on the wrist. Not that he should have even been charged, of course.
- intensely_human ( @intensely_human@lemm.ee ) English24•11 months ago
Well now I’ve got two competing claims, and I can’t believe either one until I see the authoritative history on it
There’s a documentary on YouTube called “The internet’s own boy”, if you want to learn more. Basically, he was offered a 6 month plea, but he would be a convicted felon, and basic logic/morality tells you that you shouldn’t plead guilty to a crime that you didn’t commit. However, the justice system is very imperfect, and often people plead guilty for reduced sentencing even if they’re not guilty. He stood on principle until his legs gave out. they were already in millions spent in attorney fees. Not a shred of justice can be found in how Aaron’s story ended.
Robert Evan’s did a Behind the Bastards episode on this back in December I believe.
Also JSTOR never wanted him prosecuted only to have the files deleted and call it a wash. It was MIT that supported prosecution and who called the fuzz in the first place.
I highly recommend watching the documentary on him, Internet’s own boy.
Behind the Bastards dedicated their last Christmas episode to Aaron as well: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-one-christmas-hero-episode-aaron-136561888/
Just for context for those who haven’t heard the podcast: the Christmas episodes often center around non-bastards. This is one of those. :P
i would say jstor are cunts, but actually it’s the US government that were being cunts here.
Law Enforcement and the Justice System have every responsibility to enforce laws as they were written, JSTOR pressed charges and the US Government offered Auron a plea deal to reduce his sentence to 6 months.
Definitely an argument about the inadequacy of US Healthcare to be made here, though. Auron clearly could have used some counseling.
and the US government was almost definitely trying to make an example out of him: literally anybody who read the case details whatsoever.
Only prosecuting district attorneys can chose to bring a crimial charge to court.*
*except in north carolina… for some reason they actually let victims prosecute.
He didn’t transfer or share he only downloaded.
He also was not sentenced. This post is misinformation.
Reddit could’ve been so good with him at the helm…
Good thing we’ve got a second opportunity. ;)
Lemmy is already cooked
It’s the federation part
If there was no interaction across instances then their respective populations would be smaller and thus the experience would be better
Not a bug, a feature. Bubbles are not healthy, if you can see the horrible, the horrible can see you. You are reminded that there’s dangerous viewpoints out there, they are reminded that they will have to debate and argue logically to be tolerated. That is one of the few ways to cure a toxic point of view. Doesn’t work everytime obviously, but if you get one person to hesitate before posting some sort of BS comment we’re 90% of the way there.
I’m talking from a Netherlands server, you from Canada. I’m sure lots of differences of opinion but I know you’re a person with experiences different from mine and therefore I need to be respectful when discussing things I don’t know anything about.
Bubbles are not healthy
I disagree. Bubbles can be good for protecting vulnerable people and groups.
They are bubbles anyway due to mods and admins existing
But if I wanted to spread misinformation to people then it’s way more effective when the userbase is massive
Also bubbles are way worse when you have thousands of people which as already stated still exists
The most infuriating thing was and still is the fact that some people justify the sentence and blame him for killing himself.
- intensely_human ( @intensely_human@lemm.ee ) English4•11 months ago
Well killing oneself is always one’s own choice, but it’s terrible that he was given such a ridiculous sentence for no more than a copyright issue. Not even sure if he made money on the material, but even if he did he should have gotten maybe a fine, and imprisonment is just insane.
He wasn’t sentenced, he died before he could go to trial or accept a plea deal, but there is record of a 6 month jail sentence being offered to him.
He’s probably rolling in his grave at the enshittification of reddit now too
There’s a reason the EU doesn’t extradite their citizens to the US: the justice system is considered inhumane.
Think I’m gonna be taking the solidarity approach pretty soon. Humanity is truly a cancer.
Frankly, I don’t think that was enough to make Aaron commit suicide. However, having close relations like Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian completely turn sour and blame him probably did, and I’m akin to believe they know what they did given how hard they doubled down on “well, Aaron really wasn’t that great of a guy” narrative.
Please don’t spread misinformation.
Edit: Why is anyone downvoting this? The text is inaccurate and should not be posted.
Jesuschrist. 🤦♂️
This is propaganda he got sucicided. And he didnt transfer or share scientific articles he simply downloaded them thats all. This poat is extremely damaging as its almost correct juat slightly shifting the commonly accepted reality of history. This is not the first time I’ve seen posts about him here doing a simmillar thing this raises the question who’s trying to rewrite history and what for?
help, why does it looked photoshopped (aaron swartz)