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Getting out of the way

Two decades ago, the Internet was at a crossroads. There was an open question that needed an answer: are websites legally liable for content posted by their users, or not?

The way we answered it in 1996 altered the course of our economy. That year, I worked with Congressman Christopher Cox, a California Republican, to pass bipartisan legislation that said “no,” websites and web services are not liable for user-generated content.

That important clarification of the law, upheld by the Supreme Court, helped to usher in an era of explosive innovation. It allowed internet startups the freedom to experiment with new social media services that otherwise would not have been viable. Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are just a few of the results.

Today, we confront a new version of the same question. Should we continue to apply 20th century rules to the next generation of innovations?

Ridesharing and car services like Uber and Lyft, and vacation rental companies like Airbnb, are pioneering new ways of doing business by connecting people over the internet. Applying the old rules drawn up for taxis and hotels to these fundamentally different businesses just doesn't make sense.

As we grapple with how best to protect consumers in this new era, the worst thing we can do is blindly apply old rules that stifle innovation. Of course, we need to protect privacy, create a level playing field, and stand up for consumers. But sometimes, we simply need to get out of the way.

Updating our laws to meet the needs of the 21st century economy has been one of my top priorities over the past two decades. With your support, we’ve made a lot of progress – but the work continues.

Thank you for your support, your ideas, and your involvement.

Ron Wyden

Posted on August 13, 2014.

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Ron Wyden is a champion for our progressive values -- standing up for consumers and the middle class, fighting for digital privacy and an open internet, protecting our planet and Oregon's special places, and always insisting on human rights and equality for all.

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