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A handful of House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill to protect people who write reviews on Yelp or similar online review websites.
The Consumer Review Freedom Act would prohibit companies from including clauses in their contracts that prevented people from writing critical reviews about them online, a tactic that some businesses have used to avoid online negative publicity.
You're entitled to your opinion – just be prepared for possible legal consequences if you share it online.
A growing number of companies now have "non-disparagement clauses" in their contracts or terms of use. They limit a customer's right to comment on social media sites such as Yelp about the product or service they purchased – even if that comment or review is truthful and accurate.
A non-disparagement clause might look something like this:
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) led a bipartisan group of 82 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to take swift action to expedite the safe transport of Americans out of the Cabo region and back to the United States. Hurricane Odile devastated the area Sunday evening, leaving over 10,000 Americans stranded without electricity, a dwindling food and water supply, and little to no ability to communicate with loved ones in the U.S.
HAYWARD, CA – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) is continuing to offer help to constituents and their loved ones stranded in Cabo, Mexico due to Hurricane Odile. Since extending assistance on Facebook and Twitter Tuesday evening, Swalwell's office has helped more than 50 Americans contact the State Department, learn about humanitarian resources, and find out about airlifts out of the region.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15), a Member of the Homeland Security Committee, today released the following statement after voting "no" on the McKeon Amendment to authorize the arming and training of Syrian rebels:
Fear of the Yelp review has driven some businesses around the country to attempt to fine customers for writing a negative review online.
Rep. Eric Swalwell,D-Calif., says this is a violation of free speech and will propose legislation this week to make it illegal.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15), along with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), today introduced the Consumer Review Freedom Act to make it illegal for businesses to penalize customers who write negative reviews on Yelp or other online review sites. The bill was motivated by several examples of companies attempting to dissuade people from writing honest reviews by slipping non-disparagement clauses in their consumer contracts.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15), a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after President Obama's address to the nation on the U.S. response to ISIL. Last week, Swalwell visited the Middle East and met with heads of state in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel:
U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) joined a small bipartisan congressional delegation, led by the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt to meet with heads of state about the growing threat of ISIL and how the international community can work together to destroy the dangerous terrorist organization. Swalwell, a Member of the Homeland Security Committee, discussed ISIL with U.S. allies, including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Jordanian King Abdullah, and Egyptian President el-Sisi, in addition to U.S.
President Obama's signature this month of a second bill by Rep. Eric Swalwell – naming a Dublin post office for a late veteran and community activist – means the East Bay congressman now has had more bills enacted than the 69 other House freshmen.
That's right, folks: Two bills signed into law is the best any freshman has done in this 113th Congress.