i don't know much about this case except bits and pieces, but i think that most if not all of the stuff this kid downloaded was free, uncopyrighted magazine journals, most of which had to do with anthropology i think. he could not make money off them, he could not distribute them, he could not threaten people with the material. mit and the government chose to make an example out of this kid because he was charged on the same day or very close to it as the whole private manning / wikileaks. they could not get julian, so they decided to charge him with how many felonies because of downloading anthropology articles? really? and now everybody involved is doing "soul searching" investigations and swear this will never happen again. tell that to the kids parents. he was facing life in prison or close to it. his entire career, his entire life, his entire struggle as an activist (he was instrumental in getting sopa killed), gone. i don't condone suicide, actually i fucking hate it and what it can do to everybody else . . . but this kid got royally screwed by all involved and now let's just all move along, nothing more to see.
plus, i just don't understand 'anonymous'. are they real, are they organized, or are they legion? i would love if there was an organization that oversaw our government, and their only job was to make sure it ran efficient and top notch at all times, like the machines in a factory. have the best parts, put out the best products, be the best company. simple.