Speier Issues Statement Against Anti-Piracy Bill

Congresswoman Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, on Wednesday announced she does not support issued the Stop Online Piracy Act [SOPA] and its Senate counterpart, the Protect Intellectual Property Act [PIPA].

Speier said that while she agrees with the goals of anti-piracy efforts, she doesn't believe the bill is the answer.

“In 2005, YouTube was a small web company in my district that could show the occasional video of sleeping kittens,” Speier said in her statement.

“Today, YouTube is a virtual epicenter of creative energy, innovation, and community. The same web station that shows video clips of playing puppies, can show you pop sensations, how-to videos for just about every craft, sport, or subject, and even the It Gets Better Project which helps young people struggling with their sexuality to feel accepted. To make YouTube accountable for every megabyte of user generated content is absurd and that’s why I can’t support SOPA,” she said.

“While I support the goals of anti-piracy efforts and intellectual property protection for malicious websites, I do not support this bill which is overbroad in scope and could lead to unintended consequences for an open Internet, freedom of expression and commerce,” she said in her statement.

Click here to read more about Congresswoman Speier.