Lobbyist asks lawmakers to retweet anti-piracy study

{mosads}Members who retweeted the message include Reps. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas).

It is unclear whether Prime Advocacy sent the message on behalf of the Chamber or another group.

The Chamber of Commerce was one of the leading advocates earlier this year for a tough anti-piracy bill, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Lofgren was one of the most outspoken opponents of the legislation, warning it would undermine freedom on the Internet.

Congress pulled the legislation after a massive Web protest sparked an explosion of voter anger over the issue.

Lofgren sent out a tweet soon after receiving the email, but not the one that the lobbying firm wanted.

“Pro-SOPA lobbyists are going around Capitol Hill today asking members of Congress to retweet [the Chamber study],” Lofgren wrote, including a link to the study. 

She tweeted that readers should instead look at a post on the technology website Ars Technica to see why the study is “highly misleading.”

The Chamber of Commerce and Prime Advocacy did not immediately return requests to comment.

—Updated at 12:20 p.m.