The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has agreed to release public documents related to the prosecution of internet activist, Aaron Swartz, who killed himself in January 2013 after facing trial for hacking allegations.
MIT’s move comes in response to a request by lawyers for Swartz’s estate before the US district court in Boston, to release public information related to the case, including many MIT documents.
The documents will be released at the same time as internal inquiry’s findings into MIT’s role in Swartz case is made public.
MIT president L Rafael Reif said in the time since Aaron Swartz’s suicide there have been a pattern of harassment and personal threats.
"In this volatile atmosphere, I have the responsibility to protect the privacy and safety of those members of our community who have become involved in this matter in the course of doing their jobs for MIT, and to ensure a safe environment for all of us who call MIT home," Reif said.
The MIT employees’ names will be blacked out in the documents to protect their safety and the information that might open it to further hacking attacks will also be blacked out.
According to the university, Swartz could have faced 35 years in prison and a fine of more than $1m.
However, Swartz’s family alleges the actions of both MIT and the Massachusetts US Attorney’s office were responsible for his death.
Following the suicide of Aaron Swartz, Hacktivist group, Anonymous attacked a US government website.
