02/20/2013 | 4:58 PM

FBI releases files on Aaron Swartz

By Michael Morisy, Boston.com Staff
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The Federal Bureau of Investigations has released its files on Internet transparency activist Aaron Swartz. Totaling 21 pages, the files are mostly focused on his work to put the federal court system’s PACER records online.

He was investigated by the FBI after downloading hundreds of thousands of documents through a trial program that allowed free access at a few libraries. PACER, a federal program, normally charges users to search and download materials, which are generally all public domain court documents.

Swartz committed suicide Jan. 11 while facing charges of systematically downloading a large quantity of materials from the JSTOR academic archives via a Massachusetts Institute of Technology wiring closet.

MIT has ordered a review of its role in Swartz’ prosecution.

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About this blog

The Inside the hive blog is your one-stop source for local innovation news featuring voices from the start-up, venture, and research communities. Reach us at hive@boston.com.

Michael Morisy is your editor, curator, and reporter on all things innovative and startup in Boston and beyond. He’s blown a SXSW talk, been threatened with jail for his own startup, and exchanged enough useless business cards to rebuild the rain forest. Now he wants to share your stories of creating the next insanely great business.
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