Go to http://hacks.mit.edu
MIT has, for decades, a hacker culture. These technically
illegal activities have been tolerated (and even
encouraged). People going through LOCKED doors was
tolerated - and Aaron Swartz is accused of opening an
UNLOCKED door. Why would he not expect it to be allowed?
Also, as pointed out in the above, MIT runs a wide-open
network. MIT is where hacking (in the sense of elegant
fixes or changes on computer systems, as in "neat hack")
have existed since the 1960's (maybe earlier). The majority
of MIT students are puzzle solvers - that's what gets them
in. They're from the top 1% of most of their schools.
Present them with a problem and they try to solve it or get
around it. That's the culture, that's why they were chosen
to go to MIT.
Given the above, why would Aaron Swartz have, in any way,
expected to be arrested, much less threatened with (6
months, 7 years, 35 years, 50 years - you pick the number)
of jail and being labeled a felon?
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(Note IANAL, I don't play one on TV, etc, consult a practicing attorney, etc,
etc)
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