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  • Relationships: 1
  • Research debt items: 3
  • Last verified: 2026-06-25

Zoe Lofgren

Summary

Zoe Lofgren is a U.S. Representative from California who introduced Aaron's Law to reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, working to distinguish common internet activity from harmful attacks and prevent prosecutorial overreach.

Verified Facts

  • U.S. Representative from California.
  • Introduced Aaron's Law with Sensenbrenner (bipartisan).
  • Legislation inspired by Aaron Swartz who faced up to 35 years for act of civil disobedience.
  • Aaron's Law refocuses CFAA away from common computer and internet activity.
  • Collaborated with Wyden and Paul on bicameral version.

Key Legislation

  • Aaron's Law (CFAA reform, multiple versions): Reforms the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to narrow its scope, prevent stacking of charges, and distinguish common internet activity from harmful cyberattacks. Named after Aaron Swartz. Introduced in bipartisan fashion with Sensenbrenner in the House and with Wyden and Paul in a bicameral version.

Historical Context

Aaron's Law was introduced in response to the prosecution and death of internet activist Aaron Swartz, who faced up to 35 years in prison under the CFAA for downloading academic articles from JSTOR. The legislation seeks to prevent such prosecutorial overreach by refocusing the CFAA on genuinely harmful computer attacks.

Relevance to Open Source and Software Companies

CFAA reform is critical for security researchers, developers, and anyone who accesses computer systems in ways that may technically exceed authorization but cause no harm. The broad scope of the current CFAA creates legal risk for legitimate security research, web scraping, and terms-of-service violations that Aaron's Law would narrow.

Relationships

Sources

Research Debt

  • Add independent sources for Lofgren's broader technology policy positions.
  • Document earlier versions of Aaron's Law introduced with Sensenbrenner.
  • Add source for Lofgren's other internet governance work.