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

Jun 27 2014 Not Rated 1h 45m
Biography, Crime, Documentary

Programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz achieved groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing. His passion for open access ensnared him in a legal nightmare that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26.

Plot

The story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz. From Swartz's help in the development of the basic internet protocol RSS to his 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.

Written by

Brian Knappenberger

Directed by

Brian Knappenberger

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Unjustus Films, Luminant Media, Participant, FilmBuff

Languages

English

Awards

4 wins & 4 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
18,520
Average Rating
8 out of 10
Metascore
72
Popularity
NA