Final answer:
Aaron Swartz was an Internet hacktivist who was arrested for illegally downloading academic journal articles to make them free to the public. His actions led to legal trouble, and he ultimately took his own life in 2013. Swartz's case has had a significant impact on the discussion around internet freedom and reform of computer crime laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual referred to in the question is Aaron Swartz, who was a computer programmer and Internet hacktivist. Swartz was arrested in 2011 for illegally downloading academic journal articles with the intent to make them publicly available. Unfortunately, he took his own life in 2013 while awaiting trial.
Swartz's case raised significant questions about computer crime laws, access to information, and the ethics of sharing academic work. His actions were partially in protest against the high cost of accessing scholarly papers, and he believed in making them free and available to the public. Despite his noble intentions, his methods of acquiring the papers violated current laws, leading to his legal troubles.
His passing reignited debates around the freedom of information and the fairness of the criminal justice system in cases involving digital activism. Swartz's legacy continues to influence discussions on internet freedom and the reform of computer crime legislation.