I mostly think about what they did to Aaron Swartz.

Regarding Swartz, I agree, but those are two different things. My statement was also more about the avoidance of the topic at German universities.

They also formed committees and investigated after the fact back then!

And then they adopted it as a tactic.

No, I can't provide a cite. Insider information. But whistleblowers have been threatened with being "Shwartzed" since (e.g. have frivolous criminal charges filed, to make their lives hell). In every case I've seen, whistleblowers signed an NDA, a non-disparage, and backed down.

That's why I don't trust a !@#$% thing from MIT anymore. Lies and fraud get covered up. Once that starts happening, you can't trust anything.