Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shifts on the controversial anti-piracy legislation, saying it’s time for Congress to take “a step back and start over” in order to make sure it won’t infringe on internet communications, as critics have argued. Gillibrand, one of the sponsors of the legislation in the Senate, wrote on Facebook this morning:

Whether passing the 9/11 Health Bill, repealing DADT, or my call to action for women, I have always urged New Yorkers to make their voices heard. There has been an outpouring of democracy in action over the last several weeks on PIPA & SOPA. While many of my colleagues and I have worked hard to address concerns with the current bill, it is clear this proposal will not create consensus on how to crack down on the real problem of online theft that threatens tens of thousands of New York jobs in a balanced way that ensures our tech companies will continue to flourish. It is time for Congress to take a step back and start over with both sides bringing their solutions to the table to find common ground towards solving this problem. New talks between stakeholders -- media companies, music and film companies, Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley here in New York is a critically needed step forward. Make no mistake, we must act to protect the theft of intellectual property that costs our economy billions in revenue -- but we must get it right without unintended consequences that could stifle the internet.

Earlier this week, Gillibrand her colleague, Senator Chuck Schumer, were the target of protests outside their Manhattan offices for supporting the bill.