In 2010, Aaron Swartz, a tech prodigy and political activist, entered a basement closet at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), connecting his Acer laptop to MIT’s high-speed internet to access JSTOR, a digital academic database. His intention was to liberate academic journals for public access, embodying the principles of freedom of information outlined in his “Guerrilla Open Access Manifesto” from 2008. Swartz’s actions were detected, leading to his arrest, subsequent indictment, and an untimely death in 2013, shedding light on copyright issues in the digital age and giving rise to the Free Culture movement.
The slogan “Information wants to be free” symbolizes a social movement advocating open-source software, file sharing, and a legal environment promoting modification and distribution of creative works through open content. The emergence of the Free Culture movement, spurred by figures like Swartz and Richard Stallman, underscores the shift in communication paradigms and the challenges posed by digital feudalism, where ownership is limited, and intellectual property rights can stifle individual and societal rights.
In the current landscape, copyright laws, designed for a read-only culture, impede creativity, hindering the transition to a richer read-or-write culture facilitated by technological advances. Bridging this gap requires embracing an open-source mentality, liberating academic resources and fostering a read-or-write culture on the internet. While open-source software powers two-thirds of websites, academic resources often remain behind digital barriers. Initiatives like the Directory of Open Access Journals and platforms like Wikipedia and arXiv.org exemplify the potential of liberating knowledge and data, especially when funded by taxpayers.
The Free Culture movement has catalyzed the growth of open access platforms, offering Creative Commons licensing and enabling collaborative content creation. Google’s Take Action campaign in 2012 advocated for a free and open World Wide Web, emphasizing the importance of a collective voice in shaping the internet’s future.
In India, the fight for an open and free internet gained momentum in 2015 when Airtel attempted to charge extra for VoIP services and introduced “zero rating.” Public outcry led to the abandonment of Airtel’s plan, triggering discussions on net neutrality. Recently, India adopted landmark Net Neutrality rules, ensuring equal access to online content for its 1.3 billion people, promoting online democracy, innovation, and a level playing field.
Embracing a free and open culture is not just an aspiration but a necessity to enrich our world. It entails recognizing free access to knowledge as a fundamental human right, making sharing the norm rather than the exception. As we move forward, fostering a world where knowledge is freely accessible will contribute to a more vibrant and equitable global society.