The Internet’s Own Boy tells the life story of Aaron Swartz, a sensitive genius with strong morals
Director Brian Knappenberger opens the lid on the world that Aaron Swartz lived in— a hugely gifted individual with a strong moral stance on copyright laws and creative freedom, yet always seemingly fought an uphill battle.
The film follows the programming prodigy and information activist; from Swartz's help in the development of the basic internet protocol RSS to his co-founding of Reddit. It goes without saying, his fingerprints are all over the internet.
It was Swartz's groundbreaking work in social justice and political organising 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. Swartz's story touched a nerve with people far beyond online communities in which he lived an unwanted celebrity life. This documentary acts as a personal story about what we could lose if we are tone deaf about technology and its relationship to our civil liberties.
a pioneer fighting for creative freedom
From beginning to end, The Internet’s Own Boy is an astute movie. It delivers touching interviews with Swartz’s two brothers and paints a portrait of how he inspired many people to ask questions on how our lives will be shaped in this new world.
How this story ends should leave viewers furious to how the government treated Swartz. He was nothing more than a pioneer, fighting for creative freedom in a society that only wanted to hamstring future generations. Swartz was isolated for his beliefs and threatened with jail time because he tried to make the world a better place.
The documentary is far from being a well-rounded depiction on his trials and tribulations. Rather, it predominately focuses on building his legacy up, whilst consciously veering away from the other side of the story. This results in us gaining a less than accomplished insight into his true motives that lead him to pursue his convictions so vigorously.
A STRONG AND POIGNANT piece
However, this documentary is still a strong and poignant piece that spells out quite clearly; determination and a belief for what you stand for, can give others hope. We’re at a stage in the human race where the digital age is forever re-writing itself and we have yet to find ourselves in this sometimes segregating age. It’s activists likes Swartz that, for a short period of time, gave us direction in where to go.
Aaron Swartz lived in a time when real criminals from the financial crisis walked free and dined with the President, whilst people of Swartz’s ilk became targets— simply because they threatened to breakdown the corrupt ethics that others had laid down before them.
