Potential Threats To The Internet's Freedom Of Expression

The advent of the internet has provided anyone with a laptop or a smartphone the capability to become a citizen journalist. Consumer reviews on sites like Amazon and Google have provided everyday users an opportunity to share their own opinions. However, technology’s rise has triggered debate about the freedom of expression, leaving users vulnerable to contentious litigation for writing about their experience online. Yelp's Public Policy Director Laurent Crenshaw and Emma Llansó, the director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, join National Press Club member Matthew Ballard to discuss potential threats to the internet's freedom of expression and legislation to safegaurd that freedom. Specifically, they discuss the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016, a measure recently signed into law by President Obama that prevents companies from taking legal action against customers for negative reviews.