Monthly Archives: March 2016

BECKERMAN: “We look forward to working with DoorDash to highlight their story to stakeholders as an example of the Internet’s economic benefits to communities across the country.”

Washington, D.C. – The Internet Association announced today the addition of DoorDash to its growing membership. DoorDash is a technology company and delivery platform that works with local businesses to help them reach new customers by offering door-to-door delivery. DoorDash’s data-powered logistics technology enables people to purchase goods from local merchants and have them delivered in less than 45 minutes.

“DoorDash’s innovative technology helps small businesses grow, gives people opportunities for meaningful and flexible work, and connects customers with their communities,” said Tony Xu, Co-founder and CEO of DoorDash. “As we continue expanding to new cities and increase economic opportunities for workers and small businesses, our membership in the Internet Association will help us work with other Internet platforms on important policy issues that affect customers, Dashers, merchant partners, and our business.”

Founded in 2013 in a dorm room at Stanford University, DoorDash today delivers from restaurants and other local businesses in 23 major metropolitan markets across the United States and Canada. By offering on-demand delivery, data-driven insights, and better in-store efficiency, DoorDash is empowering local merchants to grow their businesses and bring communities closer together, one doorstep at a time.

“Innovative Internet companies like DoorDash must be allowed to compete and grow in an open market. The sharing economy is an example of Internet-enabled innovation that increases quality, safety, and choice, while decreasing costs,” said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of the Internet Association. “We look forward to working with DoorDash to highlight their story to stakeholders as an example of the Internet’s economic benefits to communities across the country.”

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Washington, DC – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issued the following statement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP):

“The Internet industry is encouraged that the TPP recognizes the Internet as an essential American export, and supports the agreement’s passage. Historically, pro-Internet policies have been absent from trade agreements, which is why the TPP is an important step forward for the Internet sector that accounts for 6 percent of the GDP and nearly 3 million American jobs.

“The TPP requires countries to allow the transfer of information across borders and prohibits requirements to use inefficient, localized computing facilities. The TPP also acknowledges the benefits of the full scope of copyright law – requiring countries to adopt innovation-critical limitations and exceptions as well as safe harbors that protect the basic functionality of the Internet, social media, and online platforms. For too long, U.S. trade agreements have failed to reflect the balance of U.S. copyright law under which individual creators, right holders, Internet platforms and users have all benefitted. The TPP is a move in the right direction. Finally, the TPP promotes a more inclusive trade economy by supporting the ability of small businesses to use the Internet to serve customers and users in key markets.

“It will be critical that the TPP is implemented in a way that supports the Internet economy. The Internet industry is committed to working with U.S. trade officials and Congress to ensure that future trade negotiations build upon this framework and reflect the priorities of all stakeholders, including a rapidly growing Internet sector.”

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Washington, DC – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issued the following statement on the Internet Corporation for Assigned names and Numbers’ (ICANN) plan to transition stewardship of the Internet Assignment Numbers Authority (IANA) from the U.S. Government to the Internet community:

“The Internet Association congratulates the ICANN community on this outcome and the hard work that went into the proposal. The Internet industry is evaluating the proposal and looks forward to supporting a transition plan that preserves a multistakeholder governance model that implements strong accountability measures and controls. Such a model must treat all stakeholders equitably. Internet companies look forward to working with Congress and the NTIA as they review ICANN’s plan and look to set ICANN on a path that will allow the Internet to continue to thrive.”

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Washington, DC – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issued the following statement on the Department of Commerce’s announcement of the Digital Attaché pilot program:

“The Internet Industry applauds Secretary Pritzker’s announcement today that the U.S. Department of Commerce will establish a Digital Attaché pilot program in key U.S. embassies around the globe. In an era in which every company relies on the Internet, the Digital Attaché program has the ability to help U.S. firms compete abroad. While this program is in ‘beta,’ we hope it will further enhance our collaboration with stakeholders worldwide to promote policies that drive the global digital economy. The Internet is one of the great American exports of the 21st century, and programs like this are essential to the future growth of one of the brightest spots in the economic recovery. The U.S. Internet sector employs nearly 3 million Americans and represents 6 percent of the U.S. economy.”

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Sacramento, CA – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issued the following statement on the introduction of AB 1727, The California 1099 Self-Organizing Act, by ASM. Lorena Gonzalez:

 
“The Internet industry is concerned by today’s introduction of AB 1727. For millions of Americans, the sharing economy is an important safety net that offers flexible earning opportunities. Individuals are now able, like never before, to work for themselves and earn money how, when, and where they want. Independent contractors are prevalent in every industry, but this proposal unfairly targets the Internet sector in a way that could hurt the very people it purports to help.”

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Beckerman: “We are incredibly excited to have S.Y. join our team.  As the unified voice of the Internet economy, effective communications is core to our success.”

Washington, DC – Today, the Internet Association announced the addition of S.Y. Lee, who joins the organization as Communications Director. Lee most recently served as Deputy Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“We are incredibly excited to have S.Y. join our team,” said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of the Internet Association. “As the unified voice of the Internet economy, effective communications is core to our success. As the Internet Association’s footprint continues to grow to all 50 states, Europe, and the courts, S.Y.’s talents and experience makes him a perfect fit for our team.”

At Homeland Security, Lee was spokesman for the agency on a wide range of issues, including cybersecurity. In this role, Lee implemented rollouts of major policy announcements, was responsible for preparing briefing materials and talking points for the Secretary of Homeland Security and senior leadership, and coordinated public messaging efforts with other federal agencies, as well as the White House.

Lee will report to Noah Theran, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications.

“S.Y. is a seasoned communicator with a proven track record of success navigating complex public policy issues,” said Theran. “Educating policymakers, Internet users, and other stakeholders on the value of the Internet to the U.S. economy is one of the most important things we do at the Internet Association. His skills will be put to good use as we advocate for policies that enable the Internet ecosystem to flourish.”

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Beckerman: “Encryption protects Americans and our infrastructure from countless daily attacks by those looking to do our nation harm. Strong encryption is security and safety online, and is a vital component of our national defenses.”

Washington, DC – Today, the Internet Association, along with CCIA, i2Coalition, and individual Internet companies, filed an amicus brief supporting Apple’s opposition to the government’s unlawful request that it build a special program to undermine the iPhone’s security protocols. The Internet Association is the unified voice of the Internet industry and the brief provides the industry’s perspective on the implications of the court’s order beyond a single device to the entire Internet ecosystem.

“The Internet industry respects the important role law enforcement plays in our society keeping Americans safe and has zero tolerance for terrorism on or offline. A government request that asks companies to engineer vulnerabilities into their products or services will harm national security and put user information at risk,” said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of the Internet Association. “In this case, a false choice is presented with privacy as one option and security as the other. Encryption protects Americans and our infrastructure from countless daily attacks by those looking to do our nation harm. Strong encryption is security and safety online, and is a vital component of our national defenses.”

“While the tech industry understands the government’s desire for information, and respects its mission to keep us safe, we hope the court appropriately weighs the wider issues of security and trust that are at stake in this case. If the court sides with the government’s unprecedented demand that Apple develop software to undermine critical security features, there will be dire implications for the public’s confidence in the integrity of the Internet, and more importantly for the security of the digital ecosystem,” said Ed Black, CCIA President & CEO.

“Privacy and security lay at the heart of the Internet.  The customers of Internet infrastructure providers demand features that allow them to create private and secure businesses.  The government’s position would undermine this ability.  Because aspects of Internet infrastructure cannot be rearchitected to accommodate demands like those made on Apple, the security of the Internet as a whole will be fundamentally weakened,” said Christian Dawson, i2Coalition Executive Director.

The brief argues that the government’s request is an improper and unprecedented expansion of scope of the 1789 All Writs Act (AWA), a law that has never before been used to compel companies to create new technologies that undermine fundamental features of their businesses. Furthermore, the brief states that the FBI request is in direct violation of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), which limits government access to encrypted information.

“It is our position that there is no modern statute that allows the government to demand that any technology company build a Master Key to undermine its own encryption safeguards or other security defenses. The Internet sector looks forward to being part of this important national conversation,” concluded Beckerman.

The brief comes just days after a New York federal judge ruled in another case that the government cannot compel Apple to unlock another iPhone under the AWA.

Click here to read the full brief.

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