Demand Progress Applauds Reintroduction of Aaron’s Law

Named for Demand Progress cofounder Aaron Swartz, legislation would decriminalize normal uses of the web

Media contact: Mark Stanley, 682-429-2776
Email: press@demandprogress.org

The following statement is attributable to Demand Progress Executive Director David Segal, on the reintroduction of “Aaron’s Law” by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) among others, and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY):

“Aaron Swartz’s tragic passing two years ago attuned millions of people to the work of this tremendous activist — and also to the heavy-handed, outdated laws that govern allowable computer use.

We thank Representatives Lofgren and Sensenbrenner and Senators Wyden and Paul for their continued attention to this matter, and their work to honor Aaron’s legacy and provide his friends and countless supporters with a modicum of solace.

Aaron’s Law would decriminalize basic uses of the Internet that have been held to violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act — a law that predates the very existence of the World Wide Web. Under today’s CFAA, creating a Facebook account under a pseudonym, using a no-cookies browser, or fudging your height on a dating site could each be construed to violate federal law. It’s time to bring our computer laws into the information age.“

###