Congress has approved a bill that would protect consumers from lawsuits by businesses upset by bad online reviews, with the Internet Association one of the proposed law's main proponents.

The Consumer Review Fairness Act restricts businesses from including contract clauses preventing consumers from reviewing the goods and services provided by the company. The legislation has passed both chambers of Congress and is awaiting President Barack Obama's signature into law.

The legislation is sometimes referred to as the "Yelp bill" after the popular online review site Yelp. The Internet Association—of which Yelp is a member—has been one of the bill's chief advocates. In a statement, association CEO Michael Beckerman urged Obama to sign the legislation quickly.

"Enshrining protections for freedom of expression online into law allows the internet to thrive," Beckerman said. "‘Gag clauses' in form contracts harm consumers and violate both American principles of free speech and the values inherent in a free and open internet."

The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the new law. http://bit.ly/2fLEsDg

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