Daines’ bill to protect online consumer reviews passes Senate unanimously

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) praised this week’s unanimous Senate passage of legislation he introduced to protect consumers who write honest reviews of companies online from fearing financial repercussions from the reviewed businesses.

The Consumer Review Freedom Act, S. 2044, would prohibit the use of non-disparagement clauses that are often found in online user agreements.

“The Senate took an important step forward in protecting the first amendment rights of Americans who want to provide honest feedback about the products and services they purchase,” Daines said. “We should encourage competition and let consumers’ voices be heard on a free and open Internet. I’m excited to see the Senate stand united behind this commonsense bill.”

Daines’ legislation has received support from the consumer law industry, which cited his fight to protect the rights of consumers in sharing their experiences with products and services in a public manner.

“By approving the Consumer Review Freedom Act, the Senate has taken a significant step forward to protect consumers from unfair contract terms,” National Association of Consumer Advocates’ Legislative Director Christine Hines said. “The bill will prevent businesses from using the fine print to restrict customer reviews, which are a helpful online tool when we research and buy products and services in the marketplace. It’s important that Congress eliminate these and other anti-consumer clauses in contracts before they proliferate any further.”

Daines also serves as a cosponsor of the bipartisan Consumer Review Freedom Act, which passed out of the Science and Transportation Committee on Nov. 18 by a large, bipartisan vote.