Aaron Swartz and Free Speech on the Internet

Making News

French Air Strikes in Mali Complicate Indigenous Solutions ()

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the US will provide assistance to France against rebels in the vast, African-desert country of Mali.  There’s been concern about creating another conflict between Western nations and Muslim extremists, but Panetta says the role of Al-Qaeda has forced America to get involved. 

Guests:

• John Campbell: Senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, @johncampbellcfr

Main Topic

Aaron Swartz and Internet Freedom ()

At the age of 14, Aaron Swartz was considered an Internet prodigy who developed a code still used to deliver changing content to the worldwide web.  

He was accused of wire fraud and unlawfully obtaining information, facing federal charges and possible decades in prison.  Some supporters say his indictment could have helped cause his death.

Last week, he committed suicide at the age of 26. His suicide has cast new light on old laws regulating a changing technology.

Guests:

• John Schwartz: Legal Reporter, New York Times
• Ethan Solomon: Executive Editor at the MIT Tech newspaper, @esolomon
• Susan Crawford: Professor at the Cardozo School of Law in New York. She served in the Obama administration as a technology adviser. Author of Captive Audience: The Telecom Industry and Monopoly Power in the New Gilded Age., @scrawford
• Orin Kerr: Professor of Law at the George Washington School of Law. Author of Computer Crime Law

Reporter's Notebook

New York State Passes First Gun Bill Since Newtown ()

Last night, New York’s Republican-controlled State Senate approved new gun controls by a vote of 43 to 18.  Today, the Assembly—led by Democrats—is expected to go along and Governor Cuomo is ready to sign the package into law.  

Guests:

• Thomas Kaplan: NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), @thomaskaplan